1. Can the agency really help me get my tax refund?

Professional agencies can indeed assist companies in completing over 90% of the tax refund process, but the ultimate success of the refund still hinges on three core factors:Document Compliance,Commodity tax rebate rateandDeclaration timelinessIn 2025, the upgraded "Smart Tax Refund 2.0" system by the General Administration of Customs will impose stricter reviews on the following materials:

• VAT Special Invoice (must be authenticated via the State Taxation Administration platform)
• Electronic data of the customs declaration form (must be completely consistent with the customs system).
• A complete export agency agreement should be attached with:Voucher (additional filing required for cross-border RMB settlement)

2. How to assess the professionalism of an agency?

It is recommended to conduct screening through the "three checks and three reviews":

• Check qualifications:
  • Customs AEO certification qualification (preferably select an advanced certified enterprise)
  • (Enterprises of category B and above are in normal status)
• View the case:
  • Experience in handling similar products (especially those newly added in 2024)Cross-border e-commerce(Tax Refund Case)
  • Special trade method handling capability (e.g., Market Procurement Trade 1039 Mode)
• Testing System:
  • Whether to connect to the new version of the electronic port system
  • Can the invoice verification data from the tax bureau be synchronized in real time?

III. What are the potential risks of tax refund agency services?

New risks that require special attention in 2025 include:

• Exchange rate fluctuation risk (Agency's foreign exchange position management capability)
• Document digitization risks (upgraded compliance requirements for electronic seals)
• Supply chain traceability risks (new requirements for raw material traceability)

It is recommended to clearly specify in the agency agreement:Division of Responsibilities for Document Review,Timeliness of Tax Refund ReceiptandA case of a tax rebate dispute caused by an oral agreement of a certain electromechanical enterprise in 2024 shows that when there is a lack of a written agreement, the tax authorities may identify the actual owner of the goods as the declaration entity..

4. How should the agency fees be reasonably calculated?

In 2025, the mainstream market pricing models will exhibit two major changes:

• Basic service fee: Charged at 0.8%-1.2% of the declared customs value (a 0.2% decrease compared to 2023).
• Value - added service fee:
  • Exchange Rate Lock Service (minimum single transaction of 500 yuan)
  • Pre-tax refund financing (annualized interest rate not exceeding LPR + 150BP)

Be wary of quotations that include the following hidden fees:Urgent declaration fee,Annual system usage fee,Document Amendment Fee.

5. Will there be any changes to the tax refund cycle in 2025?

According to the latest notice from the State Taxation Administration, a tiered time limit management system will be implemented starting from 2025:

• Category A enterprises: within 15 working days after declaration
• Category B enterprises: within 30 working days after declaration
• Newly registered enterprises: Initial declaration period extended to 45 working days.

The actual arrival time is also subject to:Bank clearing cycle(It is recommended to choose commercial banks directly connected to the treasury),Adjustment of holidaysPlease translate the following Chinese into English: (Note the newly added "Digital Economy Day" holiday in 2025).

6. Which materials must I prepare myself?

The core materials that enterprises must provide on their own include:

• Power of Attorney personally signed by the legal representative (2025 edition with newly added anti-counterfeiting QR code)
• Original copy of the VAT input invoice (must be simultaneously uploaded to the blockchain evidence storage system).
• Foreign exchange payment and receipt documents (for foreign currency accounts, SWIFT messages must be provided)

7. Is remote agency feasible?

In 2025, cross-regional agency presents new characteristics:

• Advantages:
  • Eligible for special policies in the free trade zone (e.g., companies registered in Hainan Free Trade Port can handle offshore tax refunds).
  • Integrate port resources across multiple locations (particularly suitable forChina-Europe Railway Expressmultimodal transport)
• Risk:
  • Differences in local regulations (such as the variations in regulatory details between the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta regions)
  • Logistics document handover risks (It is recommended to use a digital logistics platform recognized by customs)

8. What qualifications does the company itself need to possess?

Even if an agency is appointed, the enterprise must still meet the following requirements:

• CustomsImport and exportRegistration of Consignor and Consignee (New Version Certificate Valid Until 2026)
• E-Port IC Card (upgraded to biometric smart card)
• Foreign Exchange Administration Directory Registration (additional filing required for cross-border e-commerce enterprises)
• Qualification as a general VAT taxpayer (not applicable to small-scale taxpayers).Export tax rebateTrade dispute settlement mechanisms