Lately, ten departments including the Ministry of Finance have distributed the Circular on the Administrative Measures for Import Tax Policies to Support Scientific and Technological Innovations as well as another three measures, including the Administrative Measures for the Tax-free Import of Articles by National Public Service Demonstration Platforms for Medium and Small Sized Enterprises (Technical Ones) for Scientific Researches, Scientific and Technological Development and Teaching Activities (the "Measures"), all of which will enter into force as of January 1, 2016.
The Measures make it clear that the national public service demonstration platforms for medium and small sized enterprises (technical ones) shall satisfy all of five conditions, one of which is that the total assets shall be CNY 10 million at least. Eligibility of such demonstration platforms (technical ones) for tax exemption will be reviewed once every two years. According to the Measures, demonstration platforms (technical ones) that have been identified as eligible for tax exemption shall, according to the provisions of the customs, apply to the customs for going through relevant formalities with regard to tax reduction and exemption granted to the import of articles used for scientific researches, scientific and technological development, and teaching activities. Additionally, the Measures provide that demonstration platforms (technical ones) that have become eligible for tax exemption will be disqualified for such tax exemption and required to make a supplementary payment of taxes that have been exempted, provided that they are found to acquire the eligibility for tax exemption by falsifying information.