Is There a Hidden Shortcut in Applying for the Right to Self-Operate Import and Export?

Mr. Zhang recently found that the overseas inquiries for his company's products have surged, and Ms. Li's factory has received multiple cross-border purchase intention letters. However, they are all stuck at the same stage - How to legally conduct import and export business? Applying for the right to self-operate import and export is like getting the "driver's license" for international trade. Today, we will break down this seemingly complicated process in the simplest language.

Having the self-operation right means that enterprises can directly sign contracts with overseas customers, declare customs independently, and enjoy the tax rebate policy. Taking the customers served by Zhongshitong as an example, after a certain electronic parts manufacturer obtained the qualification, the logistics cost of a single order was reduced by 23%, and the cycle of tax rebate arrival was shortened to 15 working days.

• The business license should include the business scope of "import and export" or "import and export of goods and technologies".
• The registered capital of the enterprise should not be less than 1 million yuan (it can be appropriately relaxed for cross-border e-commerce).
• The basic bank account and foreign exchange account have been opened.
• At least one person with a foreign trade practitioner qualification certificate should be equipped.

Step 1: Recordation with the Bureau of Commerce
Bring the original copy of the business license, the official seal, and a copy of the legal person's ID card, register on the unified platform of the Ministry of Commerce's business system, and you can obtain the Registration Form of Foreign Trade Operators within 3 working days.

Step 2: Customs Network Access
Submit through the China E-Port website:

• A copy of the enterprise legal person's business license
• Application Form for the Registration Certificate of the Customs Declaration Unit
• Power of Attorney of the Legal Person

Step 3: Registration with the State Administration of Foreign Exchange
After the opening of the foreign exchange account, the name list registration should be completed before the import and export of goods. The required materials include:

• Registration Form of Foreign Trade Operators
• Registration Certificate of the Customs Declaration Unit
• Qualification certificates need to be provided for special industries.

Step 4: Application for the E-Port Card
This is equivalent to the enterprise's "digital ID card" and is used for customs declaration, tax rebate, and foreign exchange verification. It is recommended to apply for both the operator card and the legal person card at the same time. The card-making fee is about 500 yuan.

Step 5: Recordation of Export Tax Rebate and Exemption with the Tax Bureau
This is the step with the strictest time limit requirement and should be completed before the declaration of the first export business. Pay special attention to the written materials of the Financial Accounting System for Export Business required by the new regulations in 2023.

• The recordation is rejected due to the failure to timely change the business scope.
• Administrative penalties are imposed due to the overdue annual inspection of customs (a certain enterprise was suspended from customs declaration rights for 3 months because of this).
• Tax inspections are triggered by incorrect declarations of foreign exchange receipts and payments.
• Forgetting to handle the inspection and quarantine registration (involving special categories such as food and cosmetics).

The professional agency service fee is about 8,000 - 15,000 yuan, but running the process by yourself may incur more hidden costs:

• The round-trip transportation cost due to incomplete materials.
• The opportunity cost of business stagnation.
• The risk of fines caused by misunderstandings of policies.

When Ms. Li's company completed the entire process, the electronic screen in the customs hall was displaying the RMB exchange rate of that day. This "pass" for import and export is not only a qualification document but also the key to opening the global market. Is Your Enterprise Ready to Go Cross-Border and Enter the Overseas Market in 2024? Welcome to share your application experience or questions in the comment section.