购买免税车¶
How to Purchase Tax-Free Cars for International Students? Tax-Free Car Purchase for Returning International Students
Interpretation of the policy for tax-free car purchase by international students: "In October 1992, as more and more people went abroad for further studies, returning international students gradually became high-end talents in various fields and an indispensable human resource for the country's economic development. To implement the specific national policy of "supporting studying abroad, encouraging returning home, and free movement," seven ministries and commissions (General Administration of Customs, National Development and Reform Commission, State Council's Economic and Trade Office, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Transport, State Taxation Administration, China National Automotive Industry Corporation) jointly issued the "Notice on Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Purchase of Personal Domestic Cars for Returning Overseas Students Using Foreign Currency" which stipulated that overseas students who are officially registered at regular universities or colleges for study or have completed their study period of one year or more, can purchase one domestic tax-free car using foreign currency within their tax-free quota and the foreign exchange brought into the country, in order to encourage overseas students to return to work in China. Since then, domestic and joint venture automobile manufacturers responded to the national call and began to offer tax-free preferential car purchase services to returning overseas students."
The summary of the above paragraph is that in order to encourage international students to return to China for employment, both domestic and joint venture cars can be purchased tax-free by international students.
Benefits of car purchase for returning international students:
Reduction or exemption of customs duties on imported spare parts (tax-free price).
Exemption from vehicle purchase tax (approximately 10% of the taxable price of the vehicle).
Process for handling the purchase:
留学生免税购车的办理流程
Conditions for applying for a duty-free vehicle:
The purpose of studying and further education, studying at a recognized university (college) or research institution abroad (including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan), pursuing a degree, engaging in further education or scientific research, and participating in academic exchanges for a period of at least one academic year.
The actual time spent abroad during the study period should be 270 days or more.
Return to the home country within two years after completing the studies or further education.
The first entry into the country after graduation or completing further education should not exceed one year.
Note: In case of any adjustments, refer to the relevant policies and regulations of the country.
The above means that if you study at a recognized institution abroad for at least one year, and return to your home country within 2 years after graduation, you can purchase a duty-free vehicle within one year from your first entry into the country. Please note that you can only purchase one duty-free vehicle. This means that if you graduate from an overseas institution but do not return to your home country within 2 years, you will not be eligible to purchase a duty-free vehicle. Alternatively, if you return to your home country, you must purchase the duty-free vehicle within one year; otherwise, you will no longer be eligible to purchase it.
Materials required for applying for duty-free vehicle purchase:
"Degree Certificate" (for international students) or "Study Proof" (for visiting scholars, post-doctoral fellows, government-sponsored personnel, etc. who do not obtain a degree).
Valid admission notice, academic credentials (for those obtaining a degree) or invitation letter, completion certificate (for those not obtaining a degree).
ID card, household registration booklet, passport, or Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan pass, along with immigration records.
"Customs Application Form for Personal Use Items."
"Power of Attorney for Agency Services."
Other materials required by the competent local customs.
Usually, professional agencies are engaged for this process. According to the official introduction of "Professional Agency Services" by the China Scholarship Service Center:
Due to the duty-free policy, duty-free vehicles cannot enter the circulation sector (i.e., they cannot be sold by dealers with invoices). Instead, they must be sold directly by the manufacturer with an invoice. Therefore, the process for purchasing a duty-free vehicle is as follows:
Procedure:
Contact the officially designated agency to confirm eligibility for purchasing a duty-free vehicle.
With the relevant documents, submit a vehicle purchase application to the customs with the assistance of the agency.
Sign a duty-free vehicle order to specify the purchased model, color, and delivery location.
The agency will verify the customs seal and complete the purchase procedures with the automobile manufacturer at the production site.
Make the vehicle payment according to the specified payment method.
The vehicle will be shipped to the designated dealership in the city stated in the order, and the manufacturer will issue a purchase invoice.
The customer inspects and accepts the vehicle, and the invoice and customs procedures are handed over.
Complete the procedures for exemption from vehicle purchase tax, vehicle inspection, and license plate registration.
For a large number of international student customers, dealing with matters in a different location can be cumbersome due to unfamiliarity with policies and procedures, leading to increased time and labor costs. By entrusting the authorized agency approved by the General Administration of Customs with the qualification to act as an agent for purchasing vehicles by international students, the aforementioned procedures can be handled by proxy, thereby resolving this contradiction. At the same time, professional agency companies are familiar with policies and procedures, providing customers with high-quality and professional agency services. On the one hand, this facilitates convenient services for international students returning to their home country to purchase vehicles, saving time and energy.
The official website of the China Scholarship Service Center recommends two professional agencies for duty-free vehicle purchase:
The China Scholarship Service Center Introduction: The China Scholarship Service Center (referred to as "the Center") was established on March 31, 1989. It is a directly affiliated institution of the Ministry of Education, registered as a legal entity, and mainly engaged in services related to studying abroad, returning to China after studying abroad, studying in China, and international education exchange and cooperation.
The Center's predecessor was the former Office of Preparatory Training for Overseas Students of the Ministry of Higher Education, established in July 1964. In 1981, to meet the needs of the development of studying abroad, with the approval of the State Council, the Beijing Preparatory Training Department for Personnel Going Abroad was established based on the training office. In 1983, it was renamed the Beijing Preparatory Training Department for Personnel Studying Abroad of the National Education Commission. Comrade Deng Xiaoping attached great importance to studying abroad work. At the expanded meeting of the Central Political Bureau held in Beidaihe in 1987, he personally proposed the establishment of a specialized institution under the National Education Commission to carry out study abroad services. With the proposal and care of Comrade Deng Xiaoping, on March 31, 1989, the National Education Commission Scholarship Service Center was formally established and externally referred to as the China Scholarship Service Center.
Official website link of the China Scholarship Service Center:
：https://www.cscse.edu.cn/cscse/lxhg/msgc/index.html
1，
Beijing Zhongqi Chengyi Overseas Students Returning Home Vehicle Purchase Service Co., Ltd
：http://www.dutyfreeauto.cn/buy.html
2，
Beijing Zhongqi Total Overseas Students Returning Home Vehicle Purchase Service Co., Ltd.
，link：https://www.88453392.com/home/buy_form
So, which car brands are eligible for duty-free purchase?
Domestic car brands.
Joint venture car brands.
Please refer to the following car brand list: ：
A reminder from Shilong Miao: If your household registration is in a city like Beijing or Shanghai, where a license plate lottery system is required to purchase a car, and you happen to not have the quota for purchasing a car, buying a duty-free car can be relatively complicated. The duty-free car for returning overseas students is a preferential policy provided by the government to encourage overseas students to return and work in their home country. Therefore, the vehicle registration after purchase can only be under the name of the student. Currently, the valid period approved by the customs in cities with license plate restrictions is generally unlimited, and there is no specific time limit for purchasing a car after approval. However, it is important to note that the application must be submitted to the customs within one year.
What is the application deadline?
The application validity period starts from the first entry date after graduation (the next day of the graduation date for those who meet the special customs approval policy) and is valid for one year. The application can be submitted to the customs of the household registration or the place of residence within one year. The approved validity period by different city customs is either six months or unlimited. You can complete the vehicle purchase within the approved validity period.
Customs policy: For individuals who enrolled before the pandemic and returned home for online courses due to the impact of the pandemic, the day after the graduation date or completion date is considered the date of graduation or completion. They can submit a car purchase application to the customs of the household registration or place of residence within one year. (The deadline for this policy is currently set as September 1, 2022.)
Do duty-free car purchases enjoy price discounts from authorized dealerships (4S stores)? Can you directly purchase a duty-free car from a 4S store?
According to the policy, duty-free cars for overseas students are not available in the market circulation field. It is required to purchase directly from the original manufacturer with an official invoice. The price of a duty-free car is directly determined by the manufacturer and is generally more advantageous than the market price. In addition, duty-free cars also enjoy exemption from vehicle purchase tax (purchase tax = vehicle taxable price × 10%), making it much more favorable compared to ordinary purchases in the market. However, the discounts provided by authorized dealerships (which are dealer-based preferential measures) are unrelated to duty-free cars and cannot be enjoyed simultaneously.
According to the requirements of the General Administration of Customs in 2004, duty-free cars can only be purchased directly from the manufacturer to receive the tax exemption policy. It is not possible to enjoy the benefits by directly purchasing from a dealership's 4S store.
Can duty-free cars be financed?
Yes, currently agency companies have collaborated with banks such as the Agricultural Bank of China, Shanghai Bank, Bank of China, and Bank of Nanjing to provide loan services for overseas students purchasing duty-free cars nationwide.
Volvo brand, in collaboration with the Agricultural Bank of China, Shanghai Bank, and Bank of China, has launched exclusive financial subsidized car purchase programs for overseas students. With zero-interest loans and low-interest long-term loans, it allows you to easily apply for a loan and enjoy a worry-free experience.
How is the after-sales service for duty-free cars guaranteed?
Duty-free cars are vehicles directly sold to overseas student customers by various brand factories in bulk production on the production line, in accordance with national policy requirements. They are all original vehicles. The warranty for the entire vehicle and parts assembly will be implemented according to the manufacturer's warranty terms and the provisions of the warranty certificate, enjoying the same warranty and after-sales service as cars purchased from 4S stores.
So, is it cost-effective for overseas students to purchase duty-free cars?
Of course, it is cost-effective. Regardless of which model you choose, it will be several thousand yuan cheaper compared to other buyers who do not have the duty-free quota. However, there are limitations as duty-free cars can only be domestic or joint venture brands.