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What Specific Qualifications and Full Approval Procedures Are Required to Register an Import and Export Company?
or complex compliance issues.
clearance and fund security.
I am an entrepreneur planning to carry out cross-border e-commerce export business in Shanghai. I have only done domestic e-commerce before and have never been engaged in the foreign trade field. I have been preparing to register an import and export company recently.
I went to the Administration for Market Regulation yesterday and was told that apart from industrial and commercial registration, I also need to go through a series of procedures including customs filing, foreign exchange registration, and export tax refund qualification approval. My mind is completely messed up now. With the cross-border e-commerce peak season in the second half of the year approaching, I am worried that incomplete material preparation and incorrect procedures will delay registration progress and miss the golden period for stock preparation and merchant recruitment.
I also fear that I will accidentally step into compliance pitfalls and leave hidden dangers for future operation. I want to ask how to apply for and register an import and export company step by step, what error-prone details I need to pay attention to, and whether there is a compliant way to obtain the qualification quickly?
Lucas LiuYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Operations ConsultantStart a Chat
First，details of pre document review: Basic materials such as the copy of business license，identity certificate of legal representative，and articles of association shall be prepared in advance. Focus on checking whether the business scope includes "import and export of goods，import and export of technology". If it is not covered，the change of industrial and commercial business scope shall be completed first. This is the core prerequisite for all subsequent qualification processing，avoiding getting stuck in the middle of the process.
Connection of core nodes: After the completion of industrial and commercial registration，you need to promote customs filing，foreign exchange receipt and payment directory registration and export tax refund qualification approval simultaneously. In Shanghai，all filing materials can be submitted online through "China International Trade Single Window". Customs filing usually can get the result within 1-2 working days. Ensure that the filing information is completely consistent with the business license，including details such as enterprise name and registered address.
Contingency plan: If the customs filing information is rejected，you need to supplement and correct the materials within 3 working days. You can contact the enterprise management department of local customs in Shanghai in advance for pre-audit，if the foreign exchange registration system reports an error，you should first check whether the real-name authentication information of the legal representative is completed.
Final compliance implementation: After all qualifications are processed，documents such as customs filing receipt and foreign exchange directory card shall be archived. At the same time，complete the export tax refund filing in the tax system to ensure that capital，documents and logistics are consistent when you carry out cross-border e-commerce business in the future.
Jason WuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
International Logistics & Supply Chain ManagerStart a Chat
In the customs filing link of import and export company registration, attention shall be paid to the initial identification of enterprise credit rating. If you fail to truthfully fill in information such as enterprise operation scale and import and export categories, you may be identified as a general credit enterprise, which affects subsequent customs clearance efficiency. In addition, the qualification of the declarer shall be clarified during filing.
If the enterprise has no full-time declarer, it shall entrust a qualified customs brokerage and enter the information of the agent customs brokerage in the filing system, so as to avoid goods being detained by customs due to inconsistent declaration subject. At the same time, ensure that the registered import and export scope is consistent with the actual business category. If new categories are added later, the filing shall be updated in time, otherwise the customs may reject the order due to exceeding the business scope.
Evelyn LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cross-border Compliance SupervisorStart a Chat
After the registration of the import and export company is completed, you need to connect with international logistics service providers in advance and select a suitable logistics route according to your main business category. If you mainly deal with small cross-border e-commerce parcels, you can give priority to postal small parcels or dedicated line logistics; if you mainly deal with bulk cargo, you need to confirm the space resources of shipping companies or airlines in advance.
At the same time, you need to clarify the relevant clauses on cargo ownership when registering, so as to avoid cargo detention at the port due to the enterprise not completing customs filing, which will generate additional costs such as container detention fee and port storage fee. In addition, you need to understand the free storage period policies of different ports in advance.
The free storage period for general cargo at Shanghai Port is 7 days. If you need to extend it, you need to apply to the terminal in advance to avoid high port storage fees.
Kevin LinYears of service：4Customer Rating：5.0
Trade Solutions ManagerStart a Chat
When registering an import and export company, you need to plan the tax structure in advance. If you mainly engage in export business, you need to apply for export tax refund qualification in time. In Shanghai, you can submit the application online through the electronic tax bureau, and you need to ensure that the export tax refund filing information is completely consistent with the customs filing information.
In addition, if you conduct business in cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot zone, you can enjoy the tax-free policy without input invoice. You need to clarify that the business scope includes "cross-border e-commerce import and export" when registering, and complete the corresponding filing in the tax system.
At the same time, pay attention to the VAT deferral policy. If you import goods, you can apply for VAT deferral to reduce capital occupation cost, but you need to ensure the compliance of subsequent tax declaration to avoid tax risks.
Daniel XuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Director of Import & Export OperationsStart a Chat
After the registration of the import and export company is completed, you need to complete the foreign exchange receipt and payment directory registration in time. In Shanghai, you can submit the application online through the Application Service Platform of State Administration of Foreign Exchange, and you need to ensure that the enterprise information in the directory registration is completely consistent with the business license. In addition, you need to open a foreign currency account in advance.
If you use RMB for cross-border settlement, you need to complete the filing in CIPS system to ensure the compliance of receipt and payment process. At the same time, you need to establish a receipt and payment ledger to record the source, purpose and corresponding documents of each cross-border fund, so as to avoid being investigated by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange due to unclear capital flow, which will affect subsequent receipt and payment business.
Cindy ChenYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Key Account ManagerStart a Chat
When registering an import and export company, you need to clarify the relevant clauses of import and export business in the articles of association, including cargo ownership transfer, liability for breach of contract and other contents. If it involves international sales contract of goods, you need to clarify the applicable law and dispute resolution method, and give priority to Chinese law and domestic arbitration institution.
In addition, you need to understand the relevant requirements of intellectual property customs protection filing in advance. If your main category involves branded products, you need to complete the intellectual property filing in time to avoid goods being detained by customs due to infringement. At the same time, pay attention to the stipulation of force majeure clause, clarify the division of responsibilities for force majeure such as natural disasters and epidemics in the contract, so as to avoid legal disputes.
Eric ZhouYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Senior Manager of Foreign Exchange & Tax RebatesStart a Chat
After the registration of the import and export company is completed, you need to understand the relevant requirements of on-site customs inspection in advance. If you mainly deal with sensitive categories, you need to clarify the business scope when registering and prepare corresponding qualification documents.
For example, food needs to provide sanitary quarantine certificate, dangerous goods need to provide MSDS report. In addition, you need to ensure that the packaging and marking of the goods meet the requirements of customs. On-site inspection at Shanghai Port is mainly divided into machine inspection and unpacking inspection.
If there is any abnormality in machine inspection, you need to provide relevant documents for explanation in time to avoid goods being detained. At the same time, you need to entrust a qualified inspection auxiliary enterprise in advance to assist in handling relevant matters of on-site inspection and improve the inspection pass rate.
Linda GaoYears of service：7Customer Rating：5.0
Documentation SupervisorStart a Chat
When registering an import and export company, if you mainly deal with dangerous goods or fragile goods, you need to plan the packaging plan in advance. Dangerous goods shall be packed in accordance with UN dangerous goods packaging standards.
Dangerous goods packaging in Shanghai needs to be identified by Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau to obtain the packaging performance inspection result sheet. In addition, fragile goods shall be reinforced with buffer packaging materials to avoid damage during transportation. You need to understand the packaging requirements of different transportation modes in advance.
For example, air transportation packaging needs to comply with relevant IATA standards. At the same time, you need to prepare MSDS report, clarify the dangerous characteristics of the goods and emergency treatment methods, ensure the compliance of packaging and documents, and avoid goods being detained by customs due to non-compliant packaging.
Michael ZhangYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customs Declaration & Compliance ExpertStart a Chat
When registering an import and export company, you need to establish a sound export tax refund document management system, and keep customs declaration forms, special value-added tax invoices, export goods subsidiary ledgers and other documents. Export tax refund declaration in Shanghai needs to be completed before April 30 of the next year after the goods are declared for export. If you declare overdue, you will not be able to enjoy the export tax refund preference.
In addition, you need to ensure the consistency of four flows, that is, capital flow, document flow, logistics and contract flow are completely matched, so as to avoid being investigated by tax authority due to inconsistency of four flows, which affects the processing of export tax refund. At the same time, you need to audit export tax refund documents regularly, find and correct errors in documents in time to ensure the compliance of export tax refund.
Andy GuoYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Supply Chain Management ExpertStart a Chat
When registering an import and export company, you need to plan the supply chain structure in advance. If you mainly engage in cross-border e-commerce business, you can adopt the "domestic warehouse + overseas warehouse" model to optimize inventory management and reduce logistics costs. In addition, you need to select appropriate trade terms.
If you adopt FOB terms, you need to connect with the freight forwarder in advance to ensure the goods are loaded on time; if you adopt CIF terms, you need to purchase freight insurance in advance to transfer logistics risks. At the same time, you need to establish an inventory linkage mechanism, adjust inventory level according to sales data, avoid overstock or out of stock, improve the efficiency and flexibility of supply chain, and better cope with order fluctuations in cross-border e-commerce peak season.