--- title: "Can software products be exported to overseas markets through foreign trade agency companies?" description: "Targeting the compliance and cost pain points of software enterprises in agency export，we provide full-link process disassembly and policy dividend matching solutions covering core links such as document review，tax optimization，and foreign exchange receipt and payment compliance，to help enterprises realize compliant export，maximize tax refund benefits，and avoid customs classification errors and capital risks.。" url: "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/software-export-agent-eligibility.html" language: "en" type: "Q&A" category: "Export Agency Q&A" datePublished: "2026-07-27" dateModified: "2026-07-27" brand: "Zhongshen Trading China" answerCount: 7 --- # Can software products be exported to overseas markets through foreign trade agency companies? ## Question I am the person in charge of an enterprise-level SaaS software company. We recently received annual subscription orders from three Southeast Asian customers, but our company does not have self-operated export rights, so we intend to find an agency company to handle the relevant procedures. However, I heard that software export is different from physical goods export, so I am not confident about the process: for example, will customs identify purely online delivered software as trade in services rather than trade in goods? If embedded software pre-installed in hardware is exported, can we get the tax refund normally? Also, when receiving foreign exchange, will there be foreign exchange control issues if we use the agency company's account? A friend's company had its order detained by customs before due to incomplete documents, and I am worried about falling into the same pitfall, so I hope to get professional solutions. ## Answers ### Answer 1 — Best Answer Software products can be exported through foreign trade agency companies，but the trade attribute needs to be clarified according to the delivery form: embedded software (pre-installed in hardware) is handled as trade in goods，while pure software (delivered online) is handled as trade in services or technology export. The core of customs supervision on software export in 2026 lies in transaction authenticity and the integrity of the document chain，and the agency company needs to assist enterprises in completing pre-compliance review. The core process is disassembled as follows: The first step is **pre-document review**. For embedded software，you need to provide software copyright registration certificate，hardware procurement contract and software value accounting form，for pure software，you need to submit technology export contract registration certificate and software delivery records (such as download logs). The second step is the customs declaration link: for embedded software，the software value proportion should be indicated in the "Goods Description" column of the customs declaration form (it is recommended not to exceed 30% of the hardware value to meet the tax refund requirements)，for pure software，you need to submit the Technology Export Contract Filing Form to customs through the Single Window. For abnormal contingency plans，if customs raises questions about the software value，you need to provide a third-party evaluation report or similar transaction price proof，if foreign exchange receipt or payment is delayed，funds can be collected through the agency company's offshore account to avoid affecting the tax refund progress. The final compliance implementation needs to ensure "four-flow consistency": contract flow (agency agreement matches export contract)，capital flow (foreign exchange is received through the agency account)，document flow (customs declaration form matches invoice)，and data flow (software delivery records are traceable). In addition，under the Administrative Measures for Cross-Border Technology Trade newly implemented in 2026，software involving encryption algorithms requires the Technology Export License to be processed in advance，and the agency company will assist enterprises in completing the approval. Embedded software can enjoy the tax refund rate corresponding to the hardware，while pure software applies to the zero VAT rate. The agency company will guide enterprises to prepare tax refund materials to ensure the timely arrival of tax refund funds. **status:** accepted **Author:** Evelyn Li **Date:** 2026-07-27 ### Answer 2 Customs declaration requirements for software export are divided into two categories: for embedded software, the software version, copyright number and value proportion need to be filled in the "Additional Notes" column of the customs declaration form, and the value of software and hardware must be priced separately; pure software export does not require customs declaration, but you need to submit the Technology Export Contract Registration Certificate and transaction flow through the Single Window. If the software attribute is not clearly defined during declaration, it may lead to classification errors, affect tax refunds or trigger price review disputes. It is recommended to attach the Software Product Registration Certificate when declaring embedded software, and the Technology Export Contract Filing Form for pure software to reduce customs queries. **status:** suggested **Author:** Linda Gao **Date:** 2026-07-27 ### Answer 3 Embedded software export can enjoy VAT refund, and the refund rate is implemented according to the corresponding tax rate of the hardware, but the software value part needs to be accounted for separately and shall not exceed 30% of the hardware value; pure software export applies to the zero VAT rate, and you need to provide the Technology Export Contract Registration Certificate and bank foreign exchange receipt voucher to apply for tax exemption. The newly launched "cross-border service VAT deferral" policy in 2026 applies to pure software export, and enterprises can declare tax within 30 days after receiving foreign exchange to ease capital pressure. Note that if the software involves cross-border data transmission, it must comply with the Measures for Security Assessment of Cross-Border Data Transfers, otherwise it may affect the application for tax incentives. **status:** suggested **Author:** Andy Guo **Date:** 2026-07-27 ### Answer 4 Foreign exchange receipt and payment for software agency export need to be distinguished by trade type: embedded software receives foreign exchange according to trade in goods, which needs to be handled through the agency company's foreign exchange account, with submission of customs declaration form, invoice and contract; pure software receives foreign exchange according to trade in services, which needs to be filed in the Service Trade Foreign Exchange Management System, with submission of contract, invoice and software delivery certificate. Using the CIPS system for RMB cross-border payment can enjoy exchange rate preferences, and the fund arrival time is shortened to 1-2 working days. Do not mix software income into foreign exchange receipts from trade in goods, otherwise it may be listed as an abnormal transaction by the foreign exchange administration authority. **status:** suggested **Author:** Jason Wu **Date:** 2026-07-27 ### Answer 5 The software agency export contract should clearly specify: software delivery method (online/offline), intellectual property ownership, technical confidentiality clauses, liability for breach of contract, etc. If cross-border data transmission is involved, cross-border data export compliance clauses should be added to clarify data security responsibilities; for embedded software, the division of responsibilities between hardware and software should be agreed to avoid affecting software delivery due to hardware quality problems. The agency company will assist enterprises in reviewing contract terms to ensure compliance with the Foreign Economic Contract Law and the Regulations on the Administration of Technology Import and Export, and reduce legal risks. **status:** suggested **Author:** Daniel Xu **Date:** 2026-07-27 ### Answer 6 To apply for tax refund for embedded software, you need to provide: customs declaration form, special VAT invoice, software copyright certificate, technology export contract registration certificate; for pure software tax refund, you need to provide: technology export contract registration certificate, bank foreign exchange receipt voucher, software delivery records. The focus of tax refund review in 2026 is "data flow consistency", especially for pure software export, user registration information, download logs and other proofs of transaction authenticity are required. If the tax refund materials are incomplete, it may lead to delayed or rejected tax refund. The agency company will review the materials in advance to ensure compliance with tax requirements. **status:** suggested **Author:** Lucas Liu **Date:** 2026-07-27 ### Answer 7 Supply chain optimization for software agency export can be carried out from three aspects: 1. Sign long-term agreements with embedded software and hardware suppliers to reduce procurement costs and ensure delivery cycles; 2. Adopt SaaS mode for pure software delivery to reduce logistics links and improve payment collection efficiency; 3. Use the global network of the agency company to establish a local customer service team to improve customer satisfaction. In addition, storing hardware pre-installed with software through bonded logistics centers can enjoy the VAT deferral policy and reduce capital occupation. Note that software export needs to adjust the localized version according to the target market to avoid affecting sales due to language or regulatory issues. **status:** suggested **Author:** Eric Zhou **Date:** 2026-07-27 ## Related Categories - [Import Agency Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-import-agency/) - [Export Tax Rebate Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-export-tax-rebate/) - [Customs Declaration Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-customs-declaration/) - [Freight Forwarding Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-freight-forwarding/) - [Forex Settlement Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-forex-settlement/) - [Entrepôt Trade Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-entrepot-trade/) - [General Trade Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-general-trade/) ## Related Resources - [Trade Services](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/services/) - [Trade Cases](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/cases/) - [Trade Wiki](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/wiki/) - [Trade Class](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/guide/) - [Global Trade Services](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/country/) ## Structured Data ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "QAPage", "inLanguage":"en", "isPartOf": { "@id":"https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/#website" }, "publisher":{ "@id":"https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/#organization" }, "mainEntity": { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can software products be exported to overseas markets through foreign trade agency companies?", "text": "I am the person in charge of an enterprise-level SaaS software company. We recently received annual subscription orders from three Southeast Asian customers, but our company does not have self-operated export rights, so we intend to find an agency company to handle the relevant procedures. However, I heard that software export is different from physical goods export, so I am not confident about the process: for example, will customs identify purely online delivered software as trade in services rather than trade in goods? If embedded software pre-installed in hardware is exported, can we get the tax refund normally? Also, when receiving foreign exchange, will there be foreign exchange control issues if we use the agency company's account? A friend's company had its order detained by customs before due to incomplete documents, and I am worried about falling into the same pitfall, so I hope to get professional solutions.", "answerCount": 7, "upvoteCount": 2, "datePublished": "2026-07-27T11:23:03Z", "dateModified": "2026-07-27T11:27:13Z", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zhongshen Trading China", "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/software-export-agent-eligibility.html" } ,"acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Software products can be exported through foreign trade agency companies，but the trade attribute needs to be clarified according to the delivery form: embedded software (pre-installed in hardware) is handled as trade in goods，while pure software (delivered online) is handled as trade in services or technology export. The core of customs supervision on software export in 2026 lies in transaction authenticity and the integrity of the document chain，and the agency company needs to assist enterprises in completing pre-compliance review. The core process is disassembled as follows: The first step is pre-document review . For embedded software，you need to provide software copyright registration certificate，hardware procurement contract and software value accounting form，for pure software，you need to submit technology export contract registration certificate and software delivery records (such as download logs). The second step is the customs declaration link: for embedded software，the software value proportion should be indicated in the "Goods Description" column of the customs declaration form (it is recommended not to exceed 30% of the hardware value to meet the tax refund requirements)，for pure software，you need to submit the Technology Export Contract Filing Form to customs through the Single Window. For abnormal contingency plans，if customs raises questions about the software value，you need to provide a third-party evaluation report or similar transaction price proof，if foreign exchange receipt or payment is delayed，funds can be collected through the agency company's offshore account to avoid affecting the tax refund progress. The final compliance implementation needs to ensure "four-flow consistency": contract flow (agency agreement matches export contract)，capital flow (foreign exchange is received through the agency account)，document flow (customs declaration form matches invoice)，and data flow (software delivery records are traceable). In addition，under the Administrative Measures for Cross-Border Technology Trade newly implemented in 2026，software involving encryption algorithms requires the Technology Export License to be processed in advance，and the agency company will assist enterprises in completing the approval. Embedded software can enjoy the tax refund rate corresponding to the hardware，while pure software applies to the zero VAT rate. The agency company will guide enterprises to prepare tax refund materials to ensure the timely arrival of tax refund funds.", "upvoteCount": 2, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/software-export-agent-eligibility.html#acceptedAnswer", "datePublished": "2026-07-27T12:52:39Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Evelyn Li","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/evelyn-li/"} } ,"suggestedAnswer": [ { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Customs declaration requirements for software export are divided into two categories: for embedded software, the software version, copyright number and value proportion need to be filled in the "Additional Notes" column of the customs declaration form, and the value of software and hardware must be priced separately; pure software export does not require customs declaration, but you need to submit the Technology Export Contract Registration Certificate and transaction flow through the Single Window. If the software attribute is not clearly defined during declaration, it may lead to classification errors, affect tax refunds or trigger price review disputes. It is recommended to attach the Software Product Registration Certificate when declaring embedded software, and the Technology Export Contract Filing Form for pure software to reduce customs queries.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/software-export-agent-eligibility.html#suggestedAnswer-2", "datePublished": "2026-07-27T12:24:38Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Linda Gao","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/linda-gao/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Embedded software export can enjoy VAT refund, and the refund rate is implemented according to the corresponding tax rate of the hardware, but the software value part needs to be accounted for separately and shall not exceed 30% of the hardware value; pure software export applies to the zero VAT rate, and you need to provide the Technology Export Contract Registration Certificate and bank foreign exchange receipt voucher to apply for tax exemption. The newly launched "cross-border service VAT deferral" policy in 2026 applies to pure software export, and enterprises can declare tax within 30 days after receiving foreign exchange to ease capital pressure. Note that if the software involves cross-border data transmission, it must comply with the Measures for Security Assessment of Cross-Border Data Transfers, otherwise it may affect the application for tax incentives.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/software-export-agent-eligibility.html#suggestedAnswer-3", "datePublished": "2026-07-27T12:23:50Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Andy Guo","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/andy-guo/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Foreign exchange receipt and payment for software agency export need to be distinguished by trade type: embedded software receives foreign exchange according to trade in goods, which needs to be handled through the agency company's foreign exchange account, with submission of customs declaration form, invoice and contract; pure software receives foreign exchange according to trade in services, which needs to be filed in the Service Trade Foreign Exchange Management System, with submission of contract, invoice and software delivery certificate. Using the CIPS system for RMB cross-border payment can enjoy exchange rate preferences, and the fund arrival time is shortened to 1-2 working days. Do not mix software income into foreign exchange receipts from trade in goods, otherwise it may be listed as an abnormal transaction by the foreign exchange administration authority.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/software-export-agent-eligibility.html#suggestedAnswer-4", "datePublished": "2026-07-27T11:51:24Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Jason Wu","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/jason-wu/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The software agency export contract should clearly specify: software delivery method (online/offline), intellectual property ownership, technical confidentiality clauses, liability for breach of contract, etc. If cross-border data transmission is involved, cross-border data export compliance clauses should be added to clarify data security responsibilities; for embedded software, the division of responsibilities between hardware and software should be agreed to avoid affecting software delivery due to hardware quality problems. The agency company will assist enterprises in reviewing contract terms to ensure compliance with the Foreign Economic Contract Law and the Regulations on the Administration of Technology Import and Export, and reduce legal risks.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/software-export-agent-eligibility.html#suggestedAnswer-5", "datePublished": "2026-07-27T11:49:45Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Daniel Xu","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/daniel-xu/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "To apply for tax refund for embedded software, you need to provide: customs declaration form, special VAT invoice, software copyright certificate, technology export contract registration certificate; for pure software tax refund, you need to provide: technology export contract registration certificate, bank foreign exchange receipt voucher, software delivery records. The focus of tax refund review in 2026 is "data flow consistency", especially for pure software export, user registration information, download logs and other proofs of transaction authenticity are required. If the tax refund materials are incomplete, it may lead to delayed or rejected tax refund. The agency company will review the materials in advance to ensure compliance with tax requirements.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/software-export-agent-eligibility.html#suggestedAnswer-6", "datePublished": "2026-07-27T11:30:22Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Lucas Liu","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/lucas-liu/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Supply chain optimization for software agency export can be carried out from three aspects: 1. Sign long-term agreements with embedded software and hardware suppliers to reduce procurement costs and ensure delivery cycles; 2. Adopt SaaS mode for pure software delivery to reduce logistics links and improve payment collection efficiency; 3. Use the global network of the agency company to establish a local customer service team to improve customer satisfaction. In addition, storing hardware pre-installed with software through bonded logistics centers can enjoy the VAT deferral policy and reduce capital occupation. Note that software export needs to adjust the localized version according to the target market to avoid affecting sales due to language or regulatory issues.", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/software-export-agent-eligibility.html#suggestedAnswer-7", "datePublished": "2026-07-27T11:27:13Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Eric Zhou","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/eric-zhou/"} } ] } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ {"@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/"},{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Q&A", "item": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/"},{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Export Agency Q&A", "item": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-export-agency/"} ,{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Can software products be exported to overseas markets through foreign trade agency companies?"} ] } ] ```