For the non-lawyer among us, forming the legal entity for a new business can act as a small roadblock in the early stages. In China, formation can be a much larger roadblock, especially as a foreigner trying to navigate countless ministries, language barriers, develop the necessary guanxi, and just generally figure out how the system works.

Due to this, my idea was to have my business started in China in the name of a local partner who’d be responsible for all government, incorporation, and tax issues while leaving me with execution and operations side of the business…

Read the rest of “Starting a New Business in China: Legal Entity” or post a comment >>

The process of importing, distributing and selling luxury goods in China raises further challenges for companies, including a number of difficult questions regarding tax treatment, customs duty, logistics and the transfer of intellectual property.

Customs duty, import VAT and consumption tax can all be charged on luxury goods imported into China. The ability of brands to mark up their goods at dramatic premiums can also prove difficult to explain to tax authorities when the time comes to file income tax returns.

Read the rest of “Luxury Brands in China: Part V” or post a comment >>

By Marshall Taplits

China has been trying to stem an ever growing trade surplus, manage domestic inflation, move development from the coastal areas to the inland areas and decrease its dependence on heavily polluting industries.

Because of these objectives, manufacturing in China is becoming more expensive as China adds in hidden (and sometimes not so hidden) costs into the sourcing equation. 

Here are the top 4 reasons you can expect costs to continue to rise in 2008:

1. Reduced VAT Refund

When Chinese manufacturers purchase goods domestically for use in manufacturing, they pay a VAT (value added tax). For people in the United States or others who are not familiar with the term VAT, it’s essentially a sales tax. Historically, the Chinese government allowed for generous VAT refunds if the final manufactured product is for export. However, as of July 1, 2007, China has changed its refund formula. Many products have had their VAT refunds completely eliminated and many others have been reduced. Since Chinese factories typically take these VAT rebates into account when calculating profit margins, the reduction or elimination of them is likely to… Read the rest of “4 Reasons Sourcing from China will be More Expensive in 2008″ or post a comment

Getting prepared for your annual audit inspection

All foreign invested businesses in China are required to prepare annual financial statements, including balance sheets and income statements for their annual Chinese audit. Such accounts must be in accordance with the Chinese accounting standards for business enterprises – there are now no differences between standards for domestic and foreign enterprises. Foreign companies, including their legally responsible persons, must take full responsibility for the truthfulness, legitimacy and completeness of these…

Read the rest of “China’s audit regulations” or post a comment >>