Our company operates in ship agency business, mainly assisting ship owners with port entry/exit procedures and cargo loading/unloading arrangements. Recently, we've been wondering whether our ship agency business involves export tax rebate during operations? If it does, what are the specific policy basis and operational procedures? We hope professionals can help answer this question. Thank you!
A company using consolidated export services inquired whether the export tax rebate is refunded to the agent. The best answer clarifies that the recipient of the rebate depends on the subject of export tax refund. If the shipment is declared and foreign exchange is collected in the client company's name, the rebate goes to the client. Only if the agent purchases the goods and handles export declaration independently does the rebate go to the agent. The key lies in the business model and workflow.
The company has export business in Nantong and needs to handle export tax rebates. It wants to find an agency with a fast processing speed. Asking friends in Nantong who have handled this business for recommendations and the processing time. The best answer suggests choosing a professional and experienced agency like Zhongshitong. They are familiar with the process, keep up with policies, and have a well - defined internal process. Generally, with complete documents, the tax rebate can be completed in 1 - 2 months, but it is also affected by the tax authorities' review.
Our company is engaged in export agency business, but we're unsure how to approach the internal accounting. We don't know how to record and handle items like receiving payments from clients, paying freight forwarding fees, or export tax rebates. The best answer suggests recording client payments as other payables, charging freight fees to the responsible party, recording advanced tax rebates as other receivables, maintaining detailed records in subsidiary ledgers, and carefully distinguishing business accounts to accurately reflect fund flows and profits.
Full escort of the import route, easy access to the global supply chain
Export agent experts, help you easily expand the international market
Avoid tariff barriers, full process transit plan customization
Export tax refund full agency, compliant and efficient fast arrival
International settlement solutions, ensure the safe arrival of funds
A key foreign trade import and export enterprise, with more than 20 years of import and export agency experience, providing one-stop service throughout the entire process!
Professional consultant answers
Elizabeth LiYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Compliance and risk managerConsult
Ship agency business generally doesn't involve export tax rebate. Export tax rebate mainly applies to goods export sales, encouraging exports by refunding VAT and consumption tax paid during domestic production and circulation. Ship agency business is essentially a service business rather than goods export sales.
Ship agencies provide services like handling port formalities and arranging cargo operations. According to current tax policies, such services are usually subject to VAT under modern services at 6% rate, not eligible for export tax rebate. However, if ship agency involves special circumstances like acting as agent for foreign vessel sales meeting relevant requirements, different treatments may apply, which should be determined based on actual business and local tax authority requirements.
In summary, routine ship agency services don't involve export tax rebate. For special cases, we recommend timely communication with local tax authorities for confirmation.
William YangYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0
International logistics consultantConsult
Ship agency business normally has nothing to do with export tax rebate. Since export tax rebate is preferential policy for physical goods export, while ship agency mainly provides services around vessel operations rather than goods trading, it basically doesn't involve export tax rebate.
Sarah ZhangYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0
Document expertConsult
No, ship agency business is service-oriented and differs from goods export concept. Export tax rebate targets tax benefits for exported goods, while service businesses generally don't fall into this category.
David LiYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Senior customs declaration consultantConsult
Normally ship agency business doesn't involve export tax rebate because export tax rebate specifically targets goods export, and services provided by ship agencies don't meet export tax rebate conditions.
Amanda YangYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Cost control consultantConsult
Ship agency business doesn't belong to export tax rebate scope. As a service industry different from goods export trade nature, it generally doesn't involve export tax rebate policy.
James LiuYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Foreign trade tax refund consultantConsult
Generally ship agency business doesn't involve export tax rebate, since export tax rebate focuses on goods export while ship agency mainly provides operational services for vessels.
Robert ChenYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0
Customer service consultantConsult
The service nature of ship agency determines it normally doesn't involve export tax rebate, which targets goods export sales - these two have distinct differences in nature.
Andrew HuangYears of service：7Customer Rating：5.0
Supply chain optimization expertConsult
Ship agency business basically doesn't involve export tax rebate because its operations mainly focus on vessel services, not meeting requirements for goods export tax rebate.
Joseph ZhouYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0
Senior foreign trade managerConsult
In most cases, ship agency business doesn't involve export tax rebate. Export tax rebate targets goods export, while ship agency as service industry doesn't qualify.
Michelle ChenYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0
Business coordination consultantConsult
Ship agency business normally doesn't involve export tax rebate, which targets exported goods - a characteristic that ship agency business doesn't possess.