1. What is the basic process for collecting payments from export agency services?

The process of export proceeds collection through an agent can be divided into three stages:Advance payment settlement, final payment collection, tax refund declarationThe specific process is as follows:

• After signing the agency agreement, the buyer shall pay a 30%-50% advance payment.
• The goods have completed customs declaration for export, and the agency company has submitted the full set of customs clearance documents.
• The remaining balance shall be paid by the buyer upon confirmation of receipt (usually settled via T/T or L/C).
• After receiving the foreign exchange, the agency company will convert it into RMB at the agreed exchange rate.
• Export enterprises apply for tax refunds with value-added tax invoices and customs declarations.

In 2025, the new regulations from the General Administration of Customs require that all agency export declarations must include the actual consignee information, which imposes higher standards for the standardization of payment receipts.

2. How to ensure the security of export payment collection through agents?

Fund security must be managed from three dimensions:

• Agency Qualification Verification:
  • Check the AEO certification status with customs
  • Verify the qualifications of enterprises listed in the SAFE directory
  • Please provide the tax refund records for the past 3 years.
• Contractual terms and constraints:
  • Clearly specify the payment account as the corporate foreign exchange account of the agency company.
  • Agreed Exchange Rate Settlement Locking Mechanism
  • Set up installment payment default clauses
• Fund supervision measures:
  • Request the agency to provide a bank guarantee.
  • Insure export credit insurance through Sinosure
  • Adopting third-party payment platforms for fund escrow.

3. How long does the payment cycle typically take for export transactions handled by an agent?

The collection cycle is influenced by multiple factors:

• Differences in settlement methods:
  • T/T Telegraphic Transfer: 30-60 days after shipment
  • L/C Letter of Credit: 15-30 days after presentation of documents
  • DP (Documents against Payment): Up to 90 days maximum
• Regional disparities:
  • The average in European and American countries is 45 days.
  • Approximately 60 days in the Middle East.
  • African countries may exceed 90 days.

The proportion of cross-border RMB settlements will increase to 38% by 2025, and using RMB for settlements can shorten the process by 7-10 working days.

IV. AgencyExport tax refundHow to influence payment collection?

Points to note during the tax refund process:

• Refund amount = Declared amount × Refund rate (average refund rate in 2025 is 13%)
• Tax refund time limit:
  • Class I enterprises: Funds will be credited within 2 business days.
  • Category II enterprises: 5-10 working days
  • Newly established enterprises: up to 20 working days at maximum
• Risk Warning:
  • The product names on the customs declaration form and the VAT invoice must be exactly the same
  • The received payment amount must reach at least 95% of the declared customs value.
  • Avoid illegal operations such as "fake export declarations."

5. How to mitigate the losses in payment collection caused by exchange rate fluctuations?

Three recommended risk control solutions for 2025:

• Forward exchange settlement: Sign a forward exchange rate agreement with the bank
• Option hedging: Pay the option premium to lock in the minimum exchange rate.
• Multi-currency settlement: Settle transactions using USD, EUR, and RMB in proportion to the trade volume.

According to the first-quarter 2025 data from the central bank, companies utilizing exchange rate hedging tools reduced their foreign exchange losses by 2.3 percentage points.

6. How to recover payment when the agency company experiences operational anomalies?

The following emergency measures are recommended:

• Immediately submit the "Report on Abnormal Export Collection of Foreign Exchange" to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.
• Retrieve original customs declaration data through the Single Window for Customs.
• Apply to Sinosure for third-party verification of trade authenticity.
• Exercise the right of intervention under Article 926 of the Civil Code to directly engage with the foreign buyer.

7. What are the special considerations for collections in emerging markets?

For emerging markets such as Southeast Asia and Africa:

• Require buyers to provideBank Credit Certificate
• Give priority to choosingOffshore account transactions
• cautiouslyForeign exchange control countriesPayment restrictions
• adoptedCross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS)Settlement

For example, Nigeria will implement a new foreign exchange policy in 2025, requiring exporters to settle foreign exchange through designated banks.