foreign tradeFor a period of time, buying export became a common practice among many small and medium-sized foreign trade enterprises. However, with increased customs supervision and adjustments to tax policies, the risks of this practice have gradually emerged. Foreign trade practitioners must exercise greater caution to avoid potential legal and economic disputes.

Background and Current Situation of Buying Export

The essence of buying export documents is to use a shell company's name to declare goods for normal export without applying for VAT refunds. Although this practice is sometimes considered a "gray area," it does not involve smuggling or misdeclaration. At least in terms of taxation, goods exported through document buying are not entirely evading taxes.

For example, plastic products, which qualify for a 13% full VAT refund, undergo VAT collection at every production stage from crude oil import to finished product export. However, under the buying export model, the VAT at the final export stage is not reclaimed, thereby increasing overall tax revenue. In recent years, even zero-refund products (such as certain steel products) have been exported through buying export, directly reducing overall tax revenue. As a result, customs scrutiny of this practice has intensified.

Current trends indicate that foreign traders using buying export are finding it increasingly difficult to evade customs investigations. For instance, customs can trace the actual cargo owners through customs brokers and freight forwarders, requiring them to pay back taxes. Although the back tax amount is generally low (around 2%), the impact on a companys reputation and long-term partnerships cannot be overlooked.

Secondary Issues Arising from Buying Export

The buying export model not only involves tax issues but also leads to a series of secondary problems:

1. Irregularities in Foreign Exchange Receipts:
   • Third-Party PlatformsA complete export agency agreement should be attached with:
   • 1039 Market Procurement Trade Method
   • Personal Account Operations
   • Merging with Other Normal Export Orders
   These methods may help companies avoid certain issues in the short term, but they pose compliance risks in the long run. For example, some third-party platforms operate opaquely and may face scrutiny from the foreign exchange authority.
2. Customs Inspection Risks:
   • Using Incorrect HS Codes to Evade Inspection
   • Including Other Goods in Export Declarations
   If discovered, these actions may result in fines or even more severe penalties for cargo owners or freight forwarders.
3. Evasion Practices in the Freight Forwarding Industry:
   • Some large freight forwarding companies have explicitly prohibited employees from participating in document-buying operations.
   • Some forwarders directly transfer document-buying business to intermediary companies, which interface with clients directly to evade responsibility.

Selection and Recommendations for Foreign Exchange Collection Channels

Regarding foreign exchange collection issues in document-buying exports, foreign trade practitioners should prioritize compliance. Below are common foreign exchange collection channels and their risk assessments:

1. Direct collection via bank accounts:
   • Advantages: Most compliant with high transparency.
   • Risks: May incur certain handling fees, and clients from some countries may be unfamiliar with foreign exchange operations.
2. : Suitable for small - value orders.:
   • Advantages: Fast and convenient, especially suitable for small transactions.
   • Risks: The platforms compliance and fund security require careful evaluation.
3. : Simplifies the trade settlement process and is suitable for orders with a small amount.:
   • Advantages: Strong policy support, suitable for small-scale and scattered exports.
   • Risks: Must ensure compliance with customs and tax regulations to avoid subsequent issues.
4. Personal accounts:
   • Advantages: High flexibility.
   • Risks: Poor compliance, likely to attract attention from tax and foreign exchange authorities.

Summary

Although document-buying exports met the needs of some SMEs under certain historical conditions, the risks have become increasingly apparent as regulatory environments tighten. From tax policy adjustments to intensified customs inspections and stricter foreign exchange collection compliance requirements, foreign trade practitioners must emphasize standardized operations.

Enterprises are advised to conduct customs declarations and foreign exchange collection through formal channels to avoid major losses for minor gains. Meanwhile, they can seek professional support from foreign trade service providers likeZhongShen International Tradeto ensure compliance and sustainable business development. After all, legality and compliance are the cornerstones of long-term stability in foreign trade!