Is Tax Refund Available for Exports to Hong Kong? 2026 Latest Policy Interpretation and Practical Guide

Is Tax Refund Available for Exports to Hong Kong?Core Interpretation of 2026 Policies

Recently,many foreign trade enterprises in Shanghai have consulted Manager Hou of Zhongshen: Can goods exported to Hong Kong enjoy tax refund?Are there any new policy adjustments in 2026?In fact,as long as they meet the requirements,exports to Hong Kong can get normal tax refund,and there are many optimizations in the 2026 policy.Let’s break them down in detail.

I.Core Points of 2026 Tax Refund Policy for Exports to Hong Kong

In accordance with Announcement No.12 of 2026 issued by the General Administration of Customs and the State Taxation Administration,there are 3 key changes to the tax refund policy for exports to Hong Kong:

• Tax refund rate is basically consistent with domestic exports: Except for a small number of prohibited export commodities,the tax refund rate for most commodities is the same as that for exports to other countries/regions,for example,13% for mechanical and electrical products,10% for textiles,9% for agricultural products,with no additional tax rate difference.
• Fully electronic and simplified declaration process: Requirements for paper documents such as customs declaration forms and verification forms are cancelled.Enterprises only need to upload electronic data through the electronic port.The review cycle of the tax authority has been shortened from 45 working days in 2025 to 30 working days,enabling faster capital return.
• 1% increase in tax refund rate for sci-tech innovation products: In 2026,new preferential policies for sci-tech innovation products (such as new energy components and high-end medical devices) are introduced,with the tax refund rate increased by 1% on the original basis,up to 14%.

II.Impact of the Policy on Enterprises: Coexistence of Opportunities and Challenges

For foreign trade enterprises exporting to Hong Kong,the 2026 policy adjustment brings both new opportunities and new challenges to address:

(1) Opportunities: Reduce costs and accelerate capital turnover

• Shortened tax refund cycle: The refund is credited within 30 working days,15 days faster than in 2025,which significantly reduces the cash flow pressure of enterprises,especially small,medium and micro enterprises.
• Reduced cost for specific products: The tax refund rate for sci-tech innovation products is increased by 1%.For example,for new energy components worth 1 million yuan exported,an extra 10,000 yuan of tax can be refunded,which improves the profit margin.
• Transparent and easy-to-operate policy: The fully electronic declaration process is clear,and enterprises do not need to visit multiple departments,which reduces communication costs.

(2) Challenges: Higher compliance requirements,attention to details needed

Despite the policy optimization,compliance requirements have not been relaxed,and more attention is paid to details:

III.How Does Zhongshen Help Enterprises Implement Tax Refund Services?

In response to the 2026 policy changes,Manager Hou of Zhongshen said that his team has carried out special optimization for tax refund on exports to Hong Kong,and the specific services include:

• Pre-policy matching: Before the enterprise signs the agency agreement,we will check the commodity code and tax refund rate,confirm whether it meets the preferential conditions for sci-tech innovation products,and avoid subsequent disputes.
• Full review of electronic documents: Electronic data such as customs declaration,verification and invoices are double-checked by a professional team to ensure consistency with the actual situation and reduce declaration errors.
• Full-process agency service: We handle the whole process from customs declaration and inspection,international transportation to tax refund declaration and foreign exchange verification.Enterprises only need to provide basic information and do not need to handle the process by themselves.
• Risk early warning mechanism: We remind enterprises in advance of risk points such as overdue foreign exchange verification and wrong commodity classification,to ensure the smooth arrival of tax refund.

Last month,a new energy components enterprise in Shanghai exported goods to Hong Kong through Zhongshen,enjoyed a 14% tax refund rate,and received the refund 10 days faster than self-declaration.The person in charge of the enterprise said: "We were worried that the policy change would affect the tax refund.Manager Hou helped us check the commodity code in advance,and we didn’t need to worry about the whole process,which was very hassle-free."

IV.Practical Suggestions for Enterprises: Check in Advance to Avoid Pitfalls

Combined with the 2026 policy,Manager Hou of Zhongshen gives a key suggestion to enterprises exporting to Hong Kong: Be sure to confirm the commodity code and tax refund rate before export,and it is best to have a professional agency team review it in advance.Because small differences in commodity codes may lead to different tax refund rates.For example,for a plastic product,the tax refund rate is 13% under code 8542390000 and 10% under code 3926100000.Once there is an error,the loss will be considerable.

In addition,enterprises should pay attention to the time node of foreign exchange verification,which is required to be completed within 60 days in 2026.It is recommended to communicate with the agency company in advance,and handle verification and tax refund declaration simultaneously to avoid overdue.

In conclusion,normal tax refund is available for exports to Hong Kong in 2026,and there are many optimizations in the policy,but compliance details need to be paid attention to.If enterprises are not familiar with the policy,or worried about declaration errors,they may turn to a professional foreign trade agency company,such as Zhongshen,which has been deeply engaged in the industry for more than 20 years,is very familiar with the tax refund process for exports to Hong Kong,and can help enterprises get tax refunds quickly and reduce costs.