To foreign investors starting businesses in China:

Looking to boost profits in the competitive foreign trade market? Leveraging China’s export policy dividends is a crucial “cash flow accelerator” you can’t afford to ignore! Using the case of ABC Company, this article breaks down the practical essentials of China’s export tax rebates in simple terms, helping you avoid tax risks and maximize policy benefits.

致来中国创业的外国投资者：

想在竞争激烈的外贸市场中提升利润？利用好中国的出口政策红利，这是你不可忽视的 “现金流加速器”！本文以 ABC 公司为例，用简单易懂的语言解析中国出口退税实操要点，帮您避开税务风险，最大化政策红利。

Case Background 案例背景

ABC Company is a foreign trade enterprise in China, with all goods exported overseas and no domestic sales.

ABC 公司是中国境内的外贸企业，所有货物全部外销出口，没有内销业务。

1

Business Process and Data Breakdown

业务流程与数据拆解

• Procurement Phase (December 2024) 采购环节（2024 年 12 月）

Purchased goods from domestic suppliers for 1.808 million RMB (tax-inclusive), obtaining a VAT special invoice (ex-tax amount: 1.6 million RMB, tax rate: 13%, tax amount: 0.208 million RMB).

从国内供应商采购货物，价款 180.8 万元（含税），取得增值税专用发票（金额 160 万元，税率 13%，税额 20.8 万元）。

Formula: Tax-inclusive purchase amount = Ex-tax purchase amount + Input VAT (1.808M = 1.6M + 0.208M).

计算公式：含税采购额 = 不含税采购额 + 进项税额（180.8 万 = 160 万 + 20.8 万）。

Tips: If a supplier switches from a USD quote to RMB, it may include VAT. If the rebate rate is 13%, it could even save costs—details to follow.

注：若供应商从美金报价转为人民币，可能包含增值税额。若退税率为 13%，反而可能省钱，后续详解。

• Export Phase (December 2024) 出口环节（2024 年 12 月）

All goods exported, with the customs declaration date as December 31, 2024. FOB amount: 280,000 USD, converted to RMB: 2 million RMB (exchange rate: 7.1429).

全部货物出口，报关单出口日期为 2024 年 12 月 31 日，FOB 金额 28 万美元，折合人民币 200 万元（汇率 7.1429）。

Formula: Export proceeds = Ex-tax sales amount (output VAT = 0, as exports are tax-exempt).

计算公式：出口收款金额 = 不含税销售额（销项税额为 0，因出口免税）。

Tips: Output VAT for export businesses is 0, differing from domestic sales.

注：出口业务销项税额为 0，区别于内销。

• Tax Rebate Calculation 退税计算

Rebate rate for the goods: 13%.

Applicable VAT rebate = Ex-tax purchase amount × Rebate rate = 1.6M × 13% = 0.208 million RMB.

货物退税率 13%，应退增值税 = 不含税采购额 × 退税率 = 160 万 ×13% = 20.8 万元。

• Other Expenses 其他费用

Purchased fixed assets and reimbursable expenses: 113,000 RMB (tax-inclusive), obtaining a special invoice (ex-tax amount: 100,000 RMB, tax amount: 13,000 RMB).

购买固定资产及报销费用 11.3 万元（含税），取得专票（金额 10 万，税额 1.3 万）。

Tips: General taxpayers should strive to obtain special invoices to save costs (principles explained later).

注：一般纳税人应尽量索取专票，可节省成本（原理后续解析）。

2

Core Logic of Export Tax Rebates: The Government “Reimburses” Procurement Taxes

出口退税核心逻辑：政府 “报销” 采购税款

Why can ABC Company claim a rebate?

为什么 ABC 公司能退税？

Exports are tax-exempt (output VAT = 0), but input VAT was paid during procurement (0.208 million RMB).

VAT payable = Output VAT – Input VAT = 0 – 0.208M = -0.208 million RMB (unrefunded input tax).

The government refunds the unrefunded input tax based on the rebate rate (≤ procurement tax rate), directly boosting cash flow.

出口免税（销项税额 = 0），但采购时支付了进项税额（20.8 万元）

应纳增值税 = 销项税额 - 进项税额 = 0 - 20.8 万 = -20.8 万元（留抵税额）

政府按退税率（≤采购征税率）退还留抵税额，直接补充企业现金流。

3

Essential Practical Points for Foreign Investors

外国投资人必懂的 3 大基础实操要点

• Input Tax Deduction Rules: Exports ≠ Full Deductibility!
• 进项税抵扣规则：外销≠全部可抵扣！

Tax law stipulates: Input VAT from fixed assets and expenses used for tax-exempt projects (e.g., all exports) must be transferred out (in the case, 13,000 RMB is included in costs and cannot be deducted).

税法规定：用于免税项目（如全部外销）的固定资产及费用进项税，需作转出处理（案例中 1.3 万元计入成本，不可抵扣）。

Risk: Incorrect deductions may trigger tax audits.

风险：错误抵扣可能引发税务稽查。

• Revenue/Cost Recognition Timing: Wrong Timing, Big Risks!
• 收入 / 成本确认时间：时间错，风险来！

The export date (12/31/2024) determines the fiscal year; revenue must be recognized and costs provisionally estimated in 2024.

Strictly prohibit delaying accounting due to late invoices (e.g., receiving a procurement invoice in January 2025), as this may lead to VAT and corporate income tax supplements and fines.

出口日期（2024.12.31）决定所属年度，需在 2024 年确认收入并暂估成本。

严禁因发票滞后（如 2025 年 1 月取得采购发票）推迟记账，否则面临增值税、企业所得税补缴及罚款。

Real case: A client was fined due to improper accounting, affecting future rebate eligibility.

真实案例：曾有客户因会计操作不当被罚款，且影响后续退税资格。

• Rebate Rates and Risk Warnings: HS Codes Are Critical!
• 退税率与风险提示：HS 编码是关键！

Rebate rate ≤ Procurement tax rate (both 13% in the case, enabling full rebate).

退税率≤采购征税率（案例中均为 13%，全额退税）。

Two restricted scenarios:

两类限制情形：

• Goods in restricted export categories (determined by HS code)—exports are not tax-exempt and are taxed as domestic sales (13% output VAT, input tax deductible).
• If Rebate rate < Procurement tax rate, tax rebates can only be claimed at the lower rebate rate (e.g., if the procurement tax rate is 13% and the rebate rate is 10%, the rebate amount will be 3% less).
• 货物属限制出口类别（HS 编码判定），出口不免税，按内销征税（13% 销项税，进项可抵扣）。
• 退税率＜征税率，只能按低退税率退税（如征税率 13%，退税率 10%，少退 3%）。

4

Conclusion

结语

Understanding the core logic and basic rules of export tax rebates is the first step for foreign investors to operate compliantly in China. The next part will focus on critical deadlines for rebate applications, foreign exchange cost monitoring, and cash flow analysis to help you implement practices and avoid risks!

理解出口退税的核心逻辑与基础规则，是外国投资人在中国合规运营的第一步。下篇将聚焦退税申报 “死线”、换汇成本监控及现金流测算，助您落地实操、规避风险！

Stay tuned for Part 2 to master the practical operations of export tax rebates!

敬请关注第二部分内容，掌握出口退税实务操作要点！

Author 作者 | Alex