
Electronic invoicing guide
China

Digital reporting requirements
Clearance.
Obligatory
B2B, B2C E-Invoicing is mandatory for new taxpayers in both the B2C and B2B sectors and for enterprises that have received an invitation from their regional tax authorities. The rest are invited to participate in the pilot. In 2024 the pilot took over all the Chinese states and it is ready to become mandatory by 2025.
Authority
State Taxation and Administration (STA).
Platform
STA platform.
Format
XML.
Storage time
30 years.
Reporting and processes
Processes
- The invoice is sent in XML format to the State Taxation Administration (STA).
- The national platform validates the invoice and includes the required elements: validation confirmation, Key ID, and QR Code.
- Once validated, the platform sends it to the invoice issuer in PDF or OFD format.
- The invoice issuer then sends it to the recipient.
The fully digitalized e-fapiao is a new type of invoice that differs from the normal VAT e-fapiao and the traditional paper Fapiao. It contains 17 items: dynamic QR code, invoice number, issuance date, buyer information, seller information, project name, specification and model, unit, quantity, unit price, amount, tax rate/levy rate, tax amount, total, ad valorem, and tax total (in words and figures), remarks, and invoice.
There are six kinds of fapiao co-existing in China during the country’s ongoing fapiao system reforms. The six types are special VAT fapiao, general VAT fapiao, special VAT e-fapiao, general VAT e-fapiao, fully digitalized special VAT e-fapiao, and fully digitalized general VAT e-fapiao.
Upcoming legislative changes
For the time being, no legislative changes are foreseen.
Links of Interest and documents
Do you have a specific need?
Get in touch with our team of experts to tackle legislative challenges.
- Detailed reports for any market.
- Support and advice in the implementation process.
- Electronic invoicing as the cornerstone of your company's digital transformation.