2026 Import and Export Exemption, Credit and Refund Policy Key Points Interpretation

2026 Import and Export Exemption,Credit and Refund Policy Key Points Breakdown

The new import and export exemption,credit and refund policy released by the State Taxation Administration and the General Administration of Customs in 2026 adjusts in three major directions: refund tax rate optimization,declaration process simplification,and compliance supervision upgrading.The following are the key points that most directly affect enterprises:

1.Refund Tax Rate Increase for Some Mechanical and Electrical and High-Tech Products

The new policy clarifies that starting in 2026,the refund tax rates for 12 categories of export commodities including lithium batteries,new energy vehicle parts,and high-end medical devices will be increased from 13% to 16%,covering approximately 30% of Shanghai’s foreign trade export categories.The logic of "exemption,credit and refund" here is: value-added tax (VAT) is exempted for exported goods; production enterprises use the export refundable tax amount to offset the domestic sales tax payable,and the unoffset portion is refunded.The new energy parts foreign trade company where Ms.Shao works had an export volume of 80 million yuan last year.With the 3 percentage point increase in refund tax rates under the new policy,it is expected to increase annual refunds by approximately 2.4 million yuan.

2.Dual Upgrade of Declaration Process: "Electronicization + Pre-Audit"

Starting in 2026,enterprises applying for exemption,credit and refund must connect in real time with the tax system through the "International Trade Single Window",and the paper customs declaration form audit link will be canceled.At the same time,the tax department will advance the export refund audit to within 3 working days after customs declaration,which is a 50% reduction compared to 2025.The garment foreign trade enterprise run by Mr.Wu previously required 15 working days for monthly refund to arrive.Under the new policy,it is expected to be reduced to within 7 working days,significantly improving cash flow turnover efficiency.

3.Compliance supervision focuses on "false declarations and capital flow"

The new policy strengthens the investigation of "Four Selfs and Three Unknowns" businesses (self-provided customers,self-provided goods,self-provided drafts,self-handled customs declarations; unknown importers,unknown exported goods,unknown suppliers),and requires enterprises to provide "three documents matching" proof of export goods logistics vouchers,foreign exchange receipts vouchers,and VAT special invoices.The electronic products foreign trade company run by Ms.Liu once had a 200,000 yuan refund suspended in 2025 due to inconsistent information between logistics vouchers and customs declarations.Under the new policy,enterprises need to conduct document consistency checks in advance.

Opportunities and Challenges of the New Policy for Shanghai’s Foreign Trade Enterprises

The 2026 exemption,credit and refund new policy brings benefits to enterprises while also putting forward new compliance requirements,which need to be viewed dialectically from two aspects:

How Zhongshen Helps Enterprises Realize the Benefits of the New Policy

In response to the opportunities and challenges of the 2026 exemption,credit and refund new policy,Zhongshen,relying on over 20 years of industry experience,provides accurate implementation services for Shanghai’s foreign trade enterprises:

• Accurate Refund Tax Rate Matching: Establish a 2026 new policy commodity database,sort out the corresponding refund tax rates for enterprises’ export commodities in advance to avoid less refund due to incorrect coding.The medical equipment foreign trade company run by Ms.Shang confirmed through Zhongshen’s matching that the refund tax rates of its 3 categories of high-end equipment have been increased from 13% to 16%,with an annual increased refund of 450,000 yuan.
• Document Consistency Check: Assist enterprises in verifying the consistency of information between logistics bills of lading,foreign exchange receipts and VAT invoices before customs declaration.Since 2026,it has helped 12 enterprises avoid refund delays caused by inconsistent documents.
• Electronic Declaration Agency Service: Relying on the "Single Window" docking capability,provide full-process electronic declaration services for enterprises.The average declaration time per refund is reduced from 2 hours of independent enterprise operation to 30 minutes,with a declaration pass rate of 99.8%.
• Compliance Risk Warning: Establish a new policy compliance risk list,provide early warning for "Four Selfs and Three Unknowns" businesses.In Q1 2026,it has identified potential false declaration risks for 8 enterprises,avoiding fines of over 1 million yuan.

Enterprise Practical Suggestions: Do This One Thing 3 Months in Advance

Under the 2026 exemption,credit and refund new policy,enterprises need to sort out the customs coding and 2026 refund tax rate comparison table for export commodities 3 months in advance,and also check the consistency of logistics,foreign exchange receipts and invoice documents for the past 6 months.The home furnishing foreign trade company run by Ms.Fu previously had a 150,000 yuan refund calculated at the old tax rate in 2025 due to failing to update the coding in time.After sorting out in advance in 2026,it is expected to receive an additional 280,000 yuan in annual refunds.