Can Vehicle Purchase Tax Be Refunded?
3 Answers
Yes, it can be refunded. Although full payment of vehicle purchase tax does not allow for vehicle registration cancellation and return, a tax refund is possible. Relevant details are as follows: 1. Reason: If a taxpayer returns a vehicle on which vehicle purchase tax has been paid to the manufacturer or seller, they may apply for a refund of the vehicle purchase tax from the competent tax authority. 2. Legal Basis: According to Article 15 of the "Vehicle Purchase Tax Law of the People's Republic of China," taxpayers may apply for a refund of the vehicle purchase tax from the competent tax authority when returning a vehicle to the manufacturer or seller. The refund amount is based on the tax paid, with a 10% reduction for each full year from the date of tax payment to the date of the refund application. Article 11 of the "Vehicle Purchase Tax Law of the People's Republic of China" states that taxpayers purchasing taxable vehicles must declare and pay the vehicle purchase tax to the competent tax authority in the vehicle registration location. For taxable vehicles that do not require registration, the tax must be declared and paid to the competent tax authority in the taxpayer's location. Article 12 specifies that the tax liability for vehicle purchase tax arises on the day the taxable vehicle is purchased, and taxpayers must declare and pay the tax within 60 days from the date the tax liability arises.
Shortly after I bought a car last year, I discovered serious quality issues with the vehicle. The 4S store agreed to a refund and also helped me apply for a purchase tax refund. The whole process was quite smooth—just required providing the car purchase invoice, refund agreement, and vehicle return receipt. The tax bureau verified the documents and refunded the tax. However, under normal circumstances, once purchase tax is paid, it cannot be reclaimed. Only in cases of vehicle returns or exports is there a chance for a tax refund. Nowadays, there are many scammers online claiming they can help you get a tax refund—don’t believe them, it’s just a money trap. Genuine tax refunds must be processed through official channels. I recommend carefully inspecting the car’s condition when purchasing and keeping all receipts to avoid future hassles.
In China, a refund of the vehicle purchase tax is possible, but the conditions are extremely stringent. The most common scenarios are when a vehicle is returned to the manufacturer due to quality issues or exported abroad, which allows for an application. I learned this from policy documents, which require providing proof of vehicle return or export customs declaration for the tax bureau to process. Under normal driving circumstances, don’t even think about a tax refund—it’s a fixed tax collected by the state. Some people try to take advantage of small benefits and fall for tax refund scams, only to suffer heavy losses. I recommend calling the tax bureau hotline 12366 directly for inquiries instead of wasting time on unreliable channels. Buying a car is a one-time payment—once you’re driving, forget about this money and just enjoy the pleasure of driving.
