Interpretation of Circular No.698

Jian Sun


Background

　In accordance with provisions of the new Law of Enterprise Income Tax (2008) and Implementing Regulations (2008), whether the income from equity investment asset transfer is derived from PRC shall be classified by the domicile of the invested enterprise, so as to decide whether should pay the income tax in PRC jurisdiction. Whereas, the State Administration of Taxation of PRC (SAT) has not clearly addressed the condition that whether the income from foreign enterprises’ transfer of Chinese domestic enterprises shares they indirectly held by the transfer of offshore holding companies falls into Chinese jurisdiction or should pay income tax in PRC.

The promulgation of Circular No.698 Guoshuihan 2009

　On December 10, 2009, the State Administration of Taxation (SAT) promulgated the Circular on Regarding Strengthening the Administration of Income Tax of Sale of Shares by Non-Resident Enterprises, (Guoshuihan [2009] 698) .

　Provisions in Circular No.698 clearly addresses that prevent the foreign enterprises from evading income tax obligation by indirect transfer of shares of Chinese resident enterprises through arrangements like abusing the corporate governance.

　In accordance with the provisions in Circular No.698, foreign investor whose indirect transfer of Chinese residence enterprises falling into the following two catalogues:

(1) The real tax burden rate of the jurisdiction where the offshore holding company transferred is incorporated is less than 12.5%; or

(2) The jurisdiction where the offshore holding company transferred is incorporated does not acquire income tax from foreign-sourced income.

　shall submit the relevant documents as below to the local taxation bureau where the Chinese domestic enterprises being transferred located within 30 days after the execution of Share Transfer Agreement to prove the aforesaid indirect share transfer is for reasonable commercial purpose.

(1) Share Transfer Contract or Agreement.

(2) The relationship between Foreign Investors and Offshore Holding Companies transferred by Foreign Investors regarding finance, operation, purchase and sale, etc;

(3) The situation of the operation, personnel, finance, property of the offshore holding companies transferred by foreign investors;

(4) The relationship of the offshore holding companies transferred by foreign investors and Chinese domestic enterprises regarding finance, operation, purchase and sale, etc.

(5) The Explanations of reasonable commercial objectives of establishment of offshore holding companies by foreign investors.

(6)Other relevant documents required by Taxation Authorities.

　Where administrating tax authorities, upon review and examination of the documents submitted by foreign investors, deem such offshore holding company to be a vehicle incorporated for the purpose of tax evasion, it has the power to re-classify the share transfer transaction in according to the nature of economies, deny the existence of offshore holding company and impose 10% income tax to the transfer of shares after the examination by the State Administration of Taxation.

　In the second place, when non-resident enterprises transfer Chinese resident enterprises to affiliated parties in the unfair price compared to the fair and independent transaction to reduce the taxable income, tax authorities have the power to adjust the income by proper methods.

　In the third place, provisions contained in Circular 698, share transfer income refers to difference between share transfer price and share cost. Share transfer price includes all sum received by share transfer assignors. In the event of invested enterprises have non-allocated profit or various funds after tax profit drawing, the invested enterprises shall not deduct aforesaid income sum from share transfer price. Cost of shares refers to real contribution sum paid by share transfer assignor to Chinese domestic company, or transfer sum paid to original assignors in the time when assignors purchased these shares.

Influence to the Oversea IPO’s and M&A

　As the Circular 698 enforced from January 1, 2008, non-resident enterprises shall review the transfer situation of Chinese domestic enterprises to decide the next step whether to calculate and submit the Enterprise Income Tax (direct transfer) or to submit the relevant document to Local Tax Authorities in the place where Chinese domestic enterprises located (indirect transfer).


国税函 2009（698）号解读
Interpretation of Circular No.698

发布背景
商业部


军用粮票管理试行办法

（1989年10月16日商业部（89）商储（粮）字第49号发布）

第一章 总 则
第一条 为了加强军用粮票的管理，完善军用粮票的管理制度，特制定本办法。
第二条 凡有军用粮票业务的各级粮食部门均适用于本办法。
第三条 军用粮票由商业部统一印制发行，任何单位和个人不得伪造翻印。
第四条 军用粮票分为军用价购粮票和军用供给粮票两种。票面额分为二十五千克（五十市斤）、五十千克（一百市斤）、二百五十千克（五百市斤）、五百千克（一千市斤）四种。军用价购粮票的面票不分品种；军用供给粮票分为粗粮、面粉、大米、马料四种。
第五条 粮食部门在发放军用粮票时，要遵守下列规定：战士发放军用供给粮票；干部（含文职人员）、在编职工、医院伤病员、海勤、空勤人员和分散起伙的少数战士及武警部队发放军用价购粮票。
第六条 军用粮票只限于军队、武警部队集体伙食单位按规定手续向粮食部门领购本单位的口粮和马料。
第七条 军用粮票不准在社会（包括军人服务社等）流通。粮食部门不得向任何持有军用粮票的个人供应军用粮、料。

第二章 军用粮票的收、付与核销
第八条 军用粮票要设专人管理，建立专帐，做到凭据收付、按月盘点，帐票相符。
第九条 军用粮票发放保管点须凭上级粮食部门签发的《军用粮票拨付通知书》发放军用粮票。没有前述（通知书）的，任何单位和各人不得擅自动用军用粮票。
第十条 粮食部门对回收的军用粮票，经认真清点后，分品种和面额整理包装、贴封（每一百张一扎、每十扎一捆、每十捆一包），上解到规定的粮票发放保管点。
第十一条 军用粮票的核销
（一）破旧损坏的军用粮票，须逐级上缴到省级粮食部门，由省级粮食部门报商业部审批核销。未经商业部审批，任何单位不得擅自核减库存数。
（二）因被盗或其他事故损失的军用粮票，要及时报商业部审批，当年销帐。若因某种原因当年不能销帐的，最迟在次年年底前销帐。
（三）因发生盗窃或其他事故损失的军用粮票，已经商业部审批核销后又找回的，应列其他收入记帐。

第三章 军用粮票库（柜）的安全管理
第十二条 省、地、市军用粮票发放保管点，必须设置军用粮票库或专用保险柜。军粮供应站（店）必须设置军用粮票专用保险柜。库、柜要设专人管理，严禁使用木箱、抽屉等不安全装具保管军用粮票。
第十三条 军用粮票库的安全管理：
（一）军用粮票库要设置双道门，安装暗锁，配备报警装置。库窗要安装铁栏或铁丝网。
（二）库房设置要符合国务院关于建筑设计防火规范的规定，设置消防给水设施，保证消防供水。灭火器材必须配备齐全，指定专人管理检修。
（三）库房内不准吸烟，不准点明火，不准存放易燃易爆等危险品。
（四）库墙、库顶、库地面必须经过防水防潮处理，保持库内干燥。库房要经常打扫、消毒，做到无污染、无虫鼠。
（五）库房必须设有值班室，备有电话，建立严格的值班制度，昼夜值班。
（六）出入库要有登记手续，与票库无关人员不准进入库房。
第十四条 逢节假日，库领导人要认真组织安全检查，并督促票库、柜管理人员封好库、柜。假期过后，要查库、柜对帐。
第十五条 军用粮票发生被盗或其他事故，应当做到：
（一）立即报告上级粮食部门和当地公安部门立案侦破；
（二）四十八小时内报告商业部；
（三）将侦破情况用书面逐级上报至省级粮食部门并报商业部备案。

第四章 军用粮票的取送
第十六条 取送军用粮票，均需两人以上同行，不准委托他人代取代送。所用装具必须符合安全要求，有条件的单位应备专车取送。
第十七条 领取军用粮票时，领票人员必须携带正式证件（上级主管单位的正式介绍信和取票单据）。没有正式证件的，付票单位有权拒付。所领粮票要当面清点，即时结清。
第十八条 领取军用粮票后，领票人员必须立即返回原单位，不准携带军用粮票旅游、探亲或在途中办理其他事项。

第五章 奖励与处罚
第十九条 对于在军用粮票管理中成绩突出的人员，可根据《企业职工奖惩条例》或《国务院关于国家行政机关工作人员的奖惩暂行规定》给予表扬、奖励；违法失职的，给予纪律处分；触犯刑律的，提请司法机关追究刑事责任。

第六章 附 则
第二十条 本办法由商业部解释。
第二十一条 本办法自一九九零年一月一日起施行。