How to Standardize the Accounting of Imported Equipment Agency Fees? These Five Key Points Must Be Mastered

Analysis of the Special Attributes of Imported Equipment Agency Fees

In the trade of imported equipment, the agency fee, asan out-of-price expense for customs declaration, according to the latest revised clauses of Incoterms 2025, its accounting treatment needs to follow three basic principles:

• expenses directly related to the transfer of equipment ownership should be included in the original value of the asset
• expenses for independent service items need to be accounted for separately
• Cross - border payment vouchers must meet the requirements of tax filing

Skills for Splitting the Constituent Elements of Agency Fees

Typical imported equipment agency fees usually include four levels:

• Basic service fee
  • Customs Declaration Service (HS Code Classification/Declaration Element Arrangement)
  • Transportation Coordination Fee (Maritime TransportationBooking/Port Operation)
• • Presentation of L/C documents: 800 - 1500 yuan per order
  • Agency for export tax rebate: 5% - 8% of the tax rebate amount
  • Service of Advancing Tariff Deposits
  • Solutions to Technical Trade Measures

Operation Guide for Book - keeping Practice in 2025

According to the latest Measures for Tax Treatment of Cross - border Services of the Ministry of Finance, it is recommended to adopt the three - column bookkeeping method:

• Path of Capitalization Treatment
  • Include in the original value of fixed assets (CIF price of equipment × proportion of agency fee)
  • Amortize in installments according to the depreciation period of the equipment
• Path of Expense Treatment
  • Accumulate to the subject of Selling Expenses - Agency Service Fees,
  • Fully deduct before current - period income tax

Control of Key Points for VAT Deduction

Starting from January, 2025, the special payment letter of VAT collected on behalf by the customs should be within180 daysComplete the deduction certification:

• The general agency service fee applies a 6% tax rate
• The international transportation agency fee applies a zero tax rate
• Technical testing services can be superimposed with additional deductions for R & D expenses

Warning Cases of Common Mistaken Operations

A certain electromechanical enterprise was inspected by the customs in 2024 due to the following operations:

• Including overseas technical consulting fees in the original value of the equipment
• Failure to keep the original agency service agreement as required
• Failure to handle tax filing for cross - border payments

Ultimately resulting in the payment of additional taxes and late fees reaching 27% of the contract amount, highlighting the importance of standardized book - keeping.

Three Core Suggestions for Compliance Management

• Establish a calculation model for the allocation of agency fees (it is recommended to adopt the activity - based costing method)
• Improve the management system of cross - border payment vouchers (pay special attention to the archiving of electronic data)
• Regularly conduct audits on the health of the trade process (it is recommended to carry out special inspections quarterly)