Summary of Coronavirus-Related Government Assistance Policies in China

Summary of Coronavirus-Related Government Assistance Policies in China

by Jenny Chu

As a result of the recent outbreak, many enterprises in China are looking for ways to cut their losses and get government assistance. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most important assistance policies that the Chinese government provides to businesses.

I．General Assistance

A． Tax
1. From March 1 to May 31, 2020, for small-scale VAT taxpayers in other regions except for Hubei, the rate of VAT levy shall be 1% instead of 3%.
2. From February 2020, micro, small and medium enterprises in provinces except for Hubei can be exempted from the employer payment of three social insurance contributions. The exemption period is subject to local regulations, but not more than five months.
3. From February 2020, large enterprises in provinces other than Hubei can halve the payment of the three social insurance contributions. The period is subject to local regulations, but not more than three months.
4. From February 2020, according to local specific regulation, enterprises can pay half of workers’ medical insurance for certain period.

B．Credit
1. Financial institutions shall make appropriate adjustments in their credit policies, reasonably delay the repayment period of enterprises that are greatly affected by the epidemic, and adopt the method of rapid approval to simplify the process of applying for financing.
2. Financial institutions shall provide appropriate credit support to manufacturing enterprises, small and micro enterprises, private enterprises and other enterprises in key areas, and increase medium-term and long-term loans for manufacturing industries.
3. The government has introduced a series of policies to reduce the overall cost of corporate loans, increase the proportion of credit loans, renewal loans and medium and long-term loans in corporate loans, and increase the first loan rate of enterprises. Financial institutions are responsible for loan approval and post-loan management, and the interest rate of lending with special re-financing funds shall not exceed the last published one-year LPR minus 100 BP. Banks and insurance institutions can lend at rates below the lending rate ceiling. The government will pay a 50% discount to the actual lending rate that enterprises receive to ensure that their actual financing costs fall below 1.6%.
4. For loan principal of micro, small and medium enterprises in trouble due since January 25, 2020, and the loan interest on January 25 and June 30, the banking financial institutions shall temporarily extend the principal and interest repayment arrangement for certain period. The principal and interest repayment date can be extended up to June 30, 2020, without penalty.

II．Assistance for Enterprises in the Prevention and Control of the Epidemic

A. Production enterprises of key materials for epidemic prevention and control
1. Enterprises that manufacture key materials for epidemic prevention and control to expand production capacity and purchase equipment are allowed to deduct the enterprise income tax in a lump sum before tax
2. Enterprises producing key materials for epidemic prevention and control may apply to the competent tax authorities on a monthly basis for full refund of the incremental VAT credit.
3. The list of key producers of materials for epidemic prevention and control shall be determined by the Development and Reform Departments and the Departments of Industry and Information Technology at or above the provincial level.

B. Enterprises focus on epidemic prevention and control
1. Taxpayers’ income for key supplies transportation services shall be exempted from VAT.
2. The list of key supplies released by the National Development and Reform Commission includes:

What’s more, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology also published a detailed list of the classification of medical emergency supplies, including tablets, reagents, sterilizing supplies (and the raw materials, auxiliary materials, production equipment and packaging materials), protective supplies (and the raw materials and production equipment), special vehicles, equipment, instruments (and their key components), and production equipment.

3. Taxpayers providing public transport services, life services, and residents' necessary daily necessities express delivery service shall be exempted from VAT.
4. The specific scope of public transport services shall be in accordance with the Provisions on the Pilot Project to Replace Business Tax with Value-added Tax.
5. The specific scope of life service and express delivery service shall be in accordance with the Notes on Sales Service, Intangible Assets and Real Estate.
6. The registration fee of medical device products is exempted for prevention and control products related to novel coronavirus (2019-ncov) entering the emergency approval process of medical devices.
7. The pharmaceutical registration fees are exempted for medicines entering into special approval procedures for medicines, treatment and prevention of novel coronavirus (2019-ncov) pneumonia.
8. The central bank shall guide financial institutions to increase credit support to enterprises in the field of epidemic prevention and control.
9. “Green channel” for the registration and issuance of financial bonds, asset-backed securities and corporate credit bonds issued by financial institutions and enterprises in heavily affected areas and mainly used for epidemic prevention and control shall be established, as well as another "green channel" for the registration and filing of private equity investment funds that plan to invest in medical equipment related to epidemic prevention and vaccine drug production and research and development enterprises.

C. Difficult industries affected by the outbreak
1. Difficult industries affected by the outbreaks including transportation, catering, and accommodation, tourism (referring to travel agencies and related services, tourism scenic spot management) four major categories, the specific judgment criteria in accordance with the current Classification of National Economy Industry.
2. In 2020, the main business income of enterprises in difficult industries shall account for more than 50% of the total revenue (excluding non-taxable income and investment income)
3. The maximum carryover period for losses incurred by an enterprise in difficult industries in 2020 shall be extended from 5 to 8 years.
4. Exemption from the civil aviation development fund payable by airlines.
5. The central bank shall guide financial institutions to provide differentiated and preferential financial services to regions, industries and enterprises that are more affected by the epidemic.

III．Assistance for Technology Enterprises

1. Resident enterprises that have been recognized and registered for technical contracts during the epidemic prevention and control period may log on to the "national online registration system for technical contracts" for online recognition and registration of technical contracts. Paper copies of technical contracts may be deferred until after the outbreak is over.
2. The national information service platform for small and medium-sized technology-based enterprises is open to the public all the time.
3. Local Science and Technology Administrative Departments should take the initiative to coordinate with relevant departments to increase financial support for incubators of science and technology entrepreneurship, and encourage science and technology business incubators, mass innovation Spaces and university science and technology parks to appropriately reduce or reduce the rent of office rental, experimental, scientific research and production premises for incubated enterprises.
4. The local governments shall provide financial support to the scientific and technological enterprises which were greatly affected by the epidemic and had production and operation difficulties.
5. Local Science and Technology Administration Departments need to recommend new technologies, products and services for epidemic prevention and control.

IV．Assistance for Cross Border

1. The bank should open up a shortcut for cross-border RMB business such as importing and donating materials related to epidemic prevention and control.
2. For the import of epidemic prevention and control materials needed by relevant departments and local governments, each branch of the SAFE office shall guide banks within its jurisdiction to simplify the import purchase and payment procedures and materials.
3. For the inward and outward foreign exchange donation to support epidemic prevention and control, the bank may directly handle it through the existing foreign exchange settlement account under current account of the recipient unit, and suspend the requirement of opening a foreign exchange donation account.
4. When an enterprise handles the settlement and payment of foreign exchange from capital account income related to epidemic prevention and control, it is not necessary to submit documents in advance, and the bank shall strengthen the post-inspection on the authenticity of the enterprise's capital use.
5. Enterprises may cancel the quota of foreign debt borrowing, etc., and may apply for registration of foreign debt online to facilitate enterprises to carry out cross-border financing if there is a real need for epidemic prevention and control.
6. Banks should pay close attention to individuals' demand for foreign exchange and encourage them to conduct personal foreign exchange business through online channels such as mobile banking.
7. For other special foreign exchange and RMB cross-border businesses related to the prevention and control of the epidemic, the bank may handle and conduct post-inspection in advance, and report to the branch of the local SAFE office and the branch of the People's Bank of China respectively.
8. Simplify cross-border RMB business procedures related to epidemic prevention and control. Banks are encouraged to directly handle cross-border RMB settlement business related to epidemic prevention and control, as well as domestic payment and use of RMB income under capital account, on the basis of payment and receipt instructions submitted by enterprises.
9. As of March 31, the imported materials directly used for epidemic prevention and control organized by the competent health authorities were exempted from customs duties, and the customs duties already collected shall be returned.

V．Others

1. Individuals are exempt from individual income tax by obtaining government standard grants and bonuses for temporary work in epidemic prevention and control.
2. Medical protective articles issued by an individual to prevent novel coronavirus from contracting pneumonia are exempted from individual income tax.
3. The cash and articles donated by public welfare social organizations or the people's governments at or above the county level and their departments to cope with the epidemic situation are allowed to be fully deducted from the enterprise income tax or individual income tax.
4. Donations of outbreak supplies directly to hospitals that are responsible for epidemic prevention and control are fully deductible from corporate or personal income tax.
5. Free donation of epidemic goods are exempted from value-added tax, consumption tax, city maintenance and construction tax, education fee surcharge, local education surcharge.

The above summarizes the national provisions applicable to the enterprises in China. It is important to note that local governments also offer more specific assistances to different local businesses. Policies in different provinces and cities have different regulations on the scope and ways of assistance to enterprises. At the same time, the central government has delegated the power to set some detailed rules to local governments during the epidemic period. Many local governments have provided more assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises and local enterprises.