China

China has launched a new pilot programme introducing “Fully digitalized e-invoice”, this is an important initiative to comprehensively promote the digital upgrade and intelligent transformation of tax collection and management, with the goal of achieving 100% invoice digitalization across the country by 2025. The pilot was first implemented on 1st December 2021, with selected taxpayers in Shanghai, Guangdong, and Inner Mongolia.

There are two types of fully digitalized e-invoice: fully digitalized special VAT e-invoice and fully digitalized general VAT e-invoice, which have the same legal effect as the paper invoice and the normal e-invoice currently in use. To remind you of the differences between General and Special VAT invoices:

• General VAT Invoice: This invoice type does not allow for VAT deduction and is typically used for B2C and tax-free transactions. The General VAT Invoice is a simplified invoice type and paperless has been allowed for years for general VAT invoices
• Special VAT Invoice: This invoice types allows for VAT deduction, and is typically used for B2B transactions

A major upgrade in this pilot is the elimination of special tax control equipment (e.g. UKEY), pilot taxpayers will instead use a national unified e-tax service platform to issue, deliver and validate e-Fapiao24/7 for free. Once the invoice data is entered in the system, the platform will issue a unique invoice number, meaning that taxpayers no longer need to apply for invoices via their local tax bureau. In addition, this platform creates a Tax Digital Account for each taxpayer, which automatically collects invoice data, allowing taxpayers to search, print, and download invoices from the platform.
The e-tax service platform aims to serve as a one-stop shop for all invoicing needs, it will be also available in the form of software and mobile app in the near feature. Furthermore, this pilot has abolished the OFD file format requirements, pilot taxpayers can send the fully digitalized e-invoice through their Tax Digital Account, QR code, or by email.

While fully digitalized e-invoice is still in the pilot stage, we expect widespread promotion and implementation soon. It is recommended that enterprises continue to pay close attention to the latest developments and evaluate the potential impact on their business. Of course, Tungsten Network will stay close to China’s e-invoicing pilots, and we will keep you up to speed.

China has set to roll out e-special VAT fapiao to all taxpayers by the end of 2021, with the expectation to achieve nationwide e-fapiao coverage by 2025.

The STA (State Tax Administration) has launched a public e-invoicing platform aiming to provide free e-invoicing support 24/7 (inv-veri.chinatax.gov.cn). Suppliers/Buyers can access this website to:

• perform validation checks on both paper and electronic invoices issued within the last 5 years. Each invoice can only be checked 5 times per day.
• download relevant certificates and software, e.g. OFD reader, e-invoice generator for UKEY users.
• learn more about e-invoicing in china via online resources, e.g. how to identify the validity of paper fapiao.

It’s noticeable that this platform has access restrictions to foreign browsers and may not work on Apple IOS systems.

China has set to roll out e-special VAT fapiao to all taxpayers by the end of 2021, with the expectation to achieve nationwide e-fapiao coverage by 2025.

The STA (State Tax Administration) has launched a public e-invoicing platform aiming to provide free e-invoicing support 24/7 (inv-veri.chinatax.gov.cn). Suppliers/Buyers can access this website to:

• perform validation checks on both paper and electronic invoices issued within the last 5 years. Each invoice can only be checked 5 times per day.
• download relevant certificates and software, e.g. OFD reader, e-invoice generator for UKEY users.
• learn more about e-invoicing in china via online resources, e.g. how to identify the validity of paper fapiao.

It’s noticeable that this platform has access restrictions to foreign browsers and may not work on Apple IOS systems.

In December, China’s State Taxation Administration (STA) announced further expansion of the trial programme (Pilot) to 38 regions in the country. The pilot enables specific Chinese taxpayers to issue VAT special electronic invoices on voluntary basis. The pilot project started in September 2020.

Read more

In December, China’s State Taxation Administration (STA) announced further expansion of the trial programme (Pilot) to 38 regions in the country. The pilot enables specific Chinese taxpayers to issue VAT special electronic invoices on voluntary basis. The pilot project started in September 2020.

Read more

China’s e-invoicing pilot for Special VAT invoices is gaining traction quickly. The pilot was already live in 11 regions and has now been extended into another 25 regions. The project is somewhat delayed; e-invoicing is now expected to be available countrywide in the course of 2021. (The original plan was to have full country coverage by the end of 2020).

The Special VAT e-invoicing initiative aims to replace the existing Fapiao process, which is fully paper-based, and which requires taxpayers to use government pre-numbered invoices and visit local tax offices to produce such invoices.

Businesses are typically selected and certified for the pilot. Certified companies use the State “Public Service Platform of Electronic VAT Invoice” using their ‘U Key’ login terminal, which is a hardware component provided by local tax offices. On the Public Service Platform taxpayers request approval for the type and number of sales invoices they will issue in a certain period. The Public Platform is also used for the permanent storage of invoices. Invoice corrections (credit notes) can also be issued using the Service Platform (using red-lined special Fapiaos).

China’s e-invoicing pilot for Special VAT invoices is gaining traction quickly. The pilot was already live in 11 regions and has now been extended into another 25 regions. The project is somewhat delayed; e-invoicing is now expected to be available countrywide in the course of 2021. (The original plan was to have full country coverage by the end of 2020).

The Special VAT e-invoicing initiative aims to replace the existing Fapiao process, which is fully paper-based, and which requires taxpayers to use government pre-numbered invoices and visit local tax offices to produce such invoices.

Businesses are typically selected and certified for the pilot. Certified companies use the State “Public Service Platform of Electronic VAT Invoice” using their ‘U Key’ login terminal, which is a hardware component provided by local tax offices. On the Public Service Platform taxpayers request approval for the type and number of sales invoices they will issue in a certain period. The Public Platform is also used for the permanent storage of invoices. Invoice corrections (credit notes) can also be issued using the Service Platform (using red-lined special Fapiaos).

The Chinese State Tax Administration (STA) provided a public update on multiple tax-related topics, including a development plan for electronic special VAT invoices.

The Chinese State Tax Administration (STA) provided a public update on multiple tax-related topics, including a development plan for electronic special VAT invoices.