Tax
China Accounting Requirements for Foreign Companies
Books, filings and reporting obligations you must meet.
This guide is currently available in English only.
Monthly obligations
- Bookkeeping under Chinese GAAP
- VAT return and invoices (fapiao) management
- Corporate income tax quarterly prepayment
- Individual income tax withholding for employees
- Social insurance and housing fund declarations
Annual obligations
- Statutory audit (where thresholds apply)
- Annual CIT settlement by 31 May
- Enterprise annual report to the market regulator by 30 June
- Renewals: address, licences and registrations
Zero activity is not zero work
A dormant company must still file nil returns on schedule. Missed filings accumulate penalties and mark the company — and its legal representative — abnormal in the public credit system.
What good compliance buys you
Clean bank relationships, smoother audits, eligibility for incentives, and a company you can sell, license or close without surprises.
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