Tax-inclusive equipment import agency: How to avoid tax risks for ten-million-level equipment?

Ten-million-levelequipment. 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.Hidden cost traps

Latest customs data for 2025 shows a 23% year-on-year increase in imports of electromechanical equipment, with precision equipment valued over 5 million RMB per unit accounting for more than 41%. Importers of such high-value equipment commonly face three major pain points:Duty valuation calculation deviationsLeading to tax supplement risks,Unreported royalty paymentsResulting in administrative penalties,Classification disputeAnd customs clearance delays. A semiconductor company once incurred over 1 million RMB in port demurrage fees due to a 37-day detention of a batch of equipment caused by HS code misclassification.

The fundamental differences between tax-inclusive models and traditional agency

Tax-inclusive equipment importImport RepresentationCore value lies inRisk transfer mechanism:

• Tax calculation method comparison:
  • Standard agency: Pay taxes based on actual tax bills
  • Tax-inclusive agency: Settle at agreed fixed tax rates
• Buy - out System (Procurement Service):
  • Standard agency: Importers bear declaration risks
  • Tax-inclusive agency: Service providers bear classification deviation risks

Complete 2025 tax-inclusive agency operation process analysis

Professional tax-inclusive equipment import requires six key stages:

• Pre - filing stage
  • Equipment functional parameter filing (down to power parameters)
  • Royalty agreement registration (including technical assistance clauses)
• Logistics implementation phase
  • Special packaging solution design (vibration-proof grade certification)
  • Transport route optimization (avoiding anti-dumping ports)

Four golden standards for selecting tax-inclusive agents

• Qualification Verification: Must hold AEO Advanced Certification + electromechanical product import qualifications
• Case study: ≥20 cases of similar equipment clearance in past three years
• Risk clauses: Contracts must specify dispute resolution mechanisms and compensation standards
• Service extensions: Should include temporary storage services during equipment debugging period

2025 Tax Rate Policy Adjustment Response Strategies

According to the 2025 Provisional Tax Rate Adjustment Plan:

• Semiconductor manufacturing equipment tariffs reduced from 5% to 3%
• Medical EquipmentVAT restored to 13% benchmark rate
• New energyNew origin certification verification process for equipment

A medical equipment importer saved 820,000 yuan in tax payments through a fixed-rate scheme with a tax-inclusive agent under the VAT restoration policy, highlighting the special advantages of tax-inclusive models during periods of rate fluctuations.

Three Common Misconceptions About Tax-Inclusive Imports

• Myth 1: Tax-inclusive means all-inclusive (actually excludes non-tax fees like late declaration penalties)
• Myth 2: The lower the tax rate the better (abnormally low rates may trigger customs audits)
• Misconception 3: New and used equipment have same rates (second-hand equipment requires additional environmental protection tax)

Ultimate Decision Logic for Equipment Importers

For equipment valued over 5 million yuan, priority should be given to tax-inclusive models. Specific decisions can refer to the formula:Risk cost = (Equipment value × Disputed tax rate difference × 0.3) + Demurrage losses. When the calculation result exceeds 30% of service fees, the tax-inclusive model becomes more economical. A precision instrument manufacturer successfully reduced overall import costs by 17.6% using this model.