Three Customs Clearance Secrets for Duty-Free Import of Scientific Research Equipment

Scientific Research Under the 2025 Duty-Free New Policyequipment. For example, Indonesia has the SNI certification, Thailand has the TISI certification, and the Philippines has the BPS certification. It is necessary to confirm in advance the equipment voltage (such as 380V/50Hz in Thailand), the compatibility of the CE certification, and the proof of environmentally friendly materials.Opportunities

According to the latest Administrative Measures for Import Tax Policies on Major Technical Equipment (2025 Edition) issued by the Ministry of Finance, the duty-free import catalog for scientific research equipment has been expanded to include 12 additional categories such as biopharmaceutical R&D equipment and quantum computing devices. Customs statistics show that in 2024, the import value of scientific research equipment exceeded $28 billion, with duty-free eligible equipment accounting for 37%, a 9 percentage point increase from 2023.

Key Points for Identifying Duty-Free Equipment and Qualification Review

Research institutions need to focus onThe Triple Matching Principle:

• Equipment purpose must match the direction of the research project (project approval documents required)
• Equipment technical parameters match the duty-free catalog (dual verification of HS code + technical specifications)
• Import entity qualifications match research institution attributes (differentiated requirements for public institutions/enterprise R&D centers)

Core value proposition of professional agency services

• Pre - classification Service: Establish product database 3 months in advance, dynamically track HS code adjustments
• Document compliance system:
  • Completeness review of scientific research project documentation
  • It is recommended to verify through the following methods:Book certification service
  • Technical parameter comparison report preparation
• Customs clearance time efficiency control: Establishing a two-step declaration + summary taxation combined solution, reducing customs clearance cycle to 7 working days

Typical dispute cases and response strategies

When a national key laboratory imported cryo-electron microscopy equipment in 2024, customs questioned due to inaccurate description of intended use. The professional agency team resolved this by:

1. Supplementing with mid-term acceptance reports of the research project
2. Providing equipment technical parameter matching documentation
3. Coordinating on-site verification by third-party inspection agencies

Ultimately successfully recovering paid taxes and completing duty-free filing, saving tax expenditures of 2.18 million yuan.

2025 operational process optimization recommendations

• Initiating equipment procurement plans 6 months in advance
• Establishing a equipment-project-qualification three-dimensional verification mechanism
• Adopting a phased customs clearance solution (technical confirmation phase + physical customs clearance phase)
• Improve the subsequent regulatory data reporting system (quarterly usage reports)

Select an agency service provider with AEO Advanced Certification to enjoy customs preferential inspection, summary taxation, and other facilitation measures. It is recommended that research institutions clearly stipulate tax exemption declaration responsibility clauses in contracts and reserve 10% of the final payment as a risk guarantee deposit.foreign tradeThree clearance secrets for tax-free import of scientific research equipment