How Much Tax Relief Can You Get from Entrepot Trade? Come and Find Out!
Resolved
Our company plans to engage in entrepot trade business and wants to understand how much tax relief can be obtained from entrepot trade. We heard that preferential policies may differ in different regions and for different product categories. We would like to know, in general, what kind of preferential margins are there for taxes such as customs duties and value-added tax involved in entrepot trade? In addition, what conditions need to be met to enjoy these preferential policies? We hope for professional assistance in answering this, thank you!

Trade Expert Insights Answers
The tax relief situation for entrepot trade is rather complex. Generally speaking, regarding customs duties, if goods only have a short transit stop and do not enter the local consumer market, they may be eligible for customs duty exemption policies. For example, in some free trade ports or specific bonded areas, entrepot trade of goods is basically exempt from customs duties.
For value-added tax, since goods in entrepot trade do not enter the domestic actual consumption link, domestic VAT payment is usually not involved. However, if related services are involved, such as entrepot trade agency services, VAT may be payable according to regulations. Nevertheless, under certain conditions, certain tax reductions and exemptions may also be enjoyed, such as the VAT exemption policy for cross-border services.
To enjoy these preferential policies, enterprises need to meet specific conditions, such as operating entrepot trade within designated bonded areas, maintaining complete records of goods entry and exit, and relevant documents to prove the authenticity of the business. Policy differences vary greatly by region, and enterprises should thoroughly understand the specific regulations of local customs and tax authorities.
Some places, in order to encourage the development of entrepot trade, offer tax preferences for entrepot goods warehousing costs, which can reduce a portion of related taxes and fees.
If the entrepot goods are components related to high-tech products, some regions will provide additional tax preferential tilt, which may reduce the customs duty rate.
In specific special economic zones, if entrepot trade enterprises reach a certain trade volume standard, they can receive tax rebates and rewards from the local government.
For the entrepot trade of some environmentally friendly products, there may be a certain degree of preferential treatment in customs duties, encouraging the trade of green products.
Some coastal port cities, in order to attract entrepot trade business, offer tax preferences on related miscellaneous fees such as loading and unloading of entrepot goods, reducing enterprise costs.
If entrepot trade involves agricultural products, in some regions, lower customs duty rates may be enjoyed, ensuring the circulation of agricultural products.
In specific comprehensive bonded zones, entrepot trade enterprises can enjoy simplified tax collection and management processes, indirectly leading to cost savings.
For the entrepot trade of some scarce resource products, specific regions may offer customs duty preferences to promote the rational allocation of resources.