Incorp China

The New Fapiao Legislation Explained

Effective 1st July 2017, the State Administration of Taxation extended its requirements for fapiao issuance. All companies need to add their taxpayer identification number on all issued VAT tax invoices (fapiaos) in addition to the original information. The notice was given under the Taxation Notice No. 16 of 2017.. 16 of 2017.

What does this mean? Why?

Originally, a fapiao only had to include four components. The paying company’s name, its company address, a description of the good or service being sold as well as its price, and the government issued red stamp. The latest regulation entails that those receiving the receipt have to provide their company’s unique taxpayer identification number in addition to the original requirements. This law, at first, only applied to VAT fapiaos that were intended for tax deducing purposes. Now, however, it includes all normal VAT fapiaos as well. This adjustment in the legislation is supposed to aid the Chinese government in tracking a company’s exact income and expenses in an effort to eliminate tax fraud.

How to find out your taxpayer ID number?

To find out what your company’s taxpayer identification number is, have a look at your business license. Every company receives a unique taxpayer ID number upon registration for tax filing purposes. In case you are the owner of multiple different companies, you will have received a separate taxpayer ID number for each.

Are individuals attributed a taxpayer ID number?

No, only companies receive a taxpayer ID number upon their registration.

What should you do?

Incorp China advises all its customers to have a physical or digital note on them clearly stating the company’s name as well as the taxpayer identification number. Having this information both in English and pinyin will make fapiao issuance as easy and hassle-free as possible. The new taxpayer number has to be filled into the line located right underneath the company’s name. Every time you ask for the issuance of a fapiao, please double-check whether the taxpayer identification number has been included and whether it is correct. If either isn’t the case you will not be able to record the fapiao in your accounting books. This means you will not be able to deduct the fapiao’s value from your taxes.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please call us under +1 (561) 729 6508 or write us an email at info@incorpchina.com.