I. What are the different methods by which an agency calculates its service fees?

By 2025, agency charging will present three mainstream models:Fixed service fee model(5,000–20,000 RMB per order),Proportional tax refund amount system(0.8％~3％),Hybrid billing model(Base fee + percentage commission). For special categories such as medical devices and photovoltaic modules, agency fees are typically more than 40% higher than those for conventional goods. It is recommended to request the agency to provide fee cases for similar products from the past three years as a reference.

II. Why can quotes from different agents differ by more than threefold?

The price difference mainly stems from:

• Qualification disparity: The service fee for Category A customs brokerage firms is 15–25% higher than that for Category C firms.
• Scope of risk assumption：
  • Contingency fee (including document correction) increased by 30%
  • Basic agents only charge a 1.2–1.8% service fee
• Additional Services: Packages that include foreign exchange verification and tax bureau pre-approval typically cost 50% more

III. What are the latest hidden fees in 2025?

Recent industry monitoring has identified a new type of fee:

• Cross-border Electronic Filing System Usage Fee (RMB 800–1,500 per instance)
• Customs Classification Dispute Handling Fee (5–10% of the disputed amount)
• Advance filing pre-audit service fee for tax refund (USD 2,000 per case)

契約書において「定められた費用以外の支出は発生しない」という條項を明確に定めることをお勧めします。

4. How to Determine Whether an Agency’s Fees Are Reasonable?

Refer to the 2025 industry association-guided pricing in the Yangtze River Delta region:

• Regular goods: 1.2%–2.5% of the tax refund amount
• Commodities: 8–15 yuan per metric ton
• Technical Service Fee: Document preparation starting at RMB 500 per set

Pay special attention to requiring the agency to present the Customs AEO certification and the SAFE (State Administration of Foreign Exchange) registration certificate.

五、代理の「成功報酬制」は信頼できるか？

Such commitments carry three major risks:

• 資料処理保証金として3,000～10,000元を前もって徴収する。
• 企業(yè)自身の問題による失敗を「不可抗力」に帰する。
• A 20–30% commission will be charged when subsequently pursuing the recovery of refunded taxes.

It is recommended to choose to provideStaged paymentAgency for the plan: 30% upon document approval, 50% upon tax bureau acceptance, balance upon receipt of the tax refund.

VI. How do cross-border e-commerce fees differ from those of traditional trade agency services?

Cross-border e-commerce agency fees typically include:

• ERP System Integration Fee (USD 700–2,800)
• Order Data Cleansing Fee (0.2 RMB per order)
• Cross-border payment channel maintenance fee (monthly payment: 800–1,500 RMB)

New additions in 2025Digital Trade Certification Service Fee, with a 15–20% surcharge on agency fees for cases involving technologies such as blockchain-based evidence deposition.

VII. How can agency costs be controlled through contractual provisions?

Essential contract clauses should include:

• Time-based penalty: A 0.5% service fee will be deducted for each day overdue.
• Error Compensation Clause: 100% compensation for losses caused by documentation errors
• Cost Cap Clause: The agreed total fee shall not exceed X% of the tax refund amount.

It is recommended to require the agent to provide proof of their insurance coverage.Professional Liability Insurance Policy, the insured amount shall not be less than RMB 5 million.

(Total length: 1,265 words; prepared in accordance with the latest 2025 Customs General Administration Order No. 83 and State Taxation Administration Announcement No. 12, among other policy documents)