Last month, Mr. Huang from Guangzhou asked in the group chat: ”I can’t get a tax refund for the goods in my 9810 overseas warehouse. Customs says the B2B documentation is incomplete, but the Amazon dashboard clearly shows the buyer’s actual address. Is this a new issue in 2026, or are we doing something wrong?”

Mr. Huang’s concerns reflect those of a large number of sellers using the 9810 procedure in 2026—the overseas warehouse model makes tax refunds difficult and is prone to delays. In this article, we’ll use an actual 9810 tax refund statement to break down the formula and compare it with the 9610, 9710, and 1210 categories, showing you which products are suitable for the 9810 category and which pitfalls you can avoid in advance.

01

What Is 9810? One Chart Explains the Four Export Models

9810, full name: ”Cross-border E-commerce Export Overseas Warehouses”, Customs Supervision Code; the corresponding business models are:

Chinese sellers first export their goods in bulk to overseas fulfillment centers (Amazon FBA centers or third-party overseas fulfillment centers). After buyers place orders on e-commerce platforms, the goods are shipped directly to the buyers from these overseas fulfillment centers. Simply put, it’s a matter of ”stocking goods overseas first, then selling them.”

In addition to the 9810, three other models are often mentioned in the same breath:

9610: ”Cross-border B2C e-commerce retail exports,” commonly known as ”direct shipping of small packages.” For each order, the item is shipped directly from China to the buyer via international express delivery after the buyer places the order. This method is suitable for lightweight, small items and high-frequency orders.

9710: ”Cross-border B2B Direct Export”—bulk exports from business to business. Suitable for large wholesale orders and overseas distribution.

1210: ”Cross-border e-commerce export to overseas warehouses,” commonly known as ”bonded + overseas warehouse.” Goods are first stored in a bonded warehouse, and once an order is placed, they are shipped from the bonded warehouse, with ownership remaining under customs supervision. This model is suitable for fast-moving consumer goods and high-turnover categories.

The key differences between the four modes are“Where should the shipment be sent from?”: 9610 ships from China, 9810 ships from an overseas warehouse, 9710 is for large-volume B2B orders, and 1210 ships from a bonded warehouse.

When it comes to tax refunds, the difference is even more apparent.

02

Formula for Tax Refund 9810: What Qualifies for a Refund and What Doesn't

The Two Core Formulas for Export Tax Rebates Under Circular No. 9810 in 2026:

First.Value-Added Tax Refund: Tax Refund Amount = Amount on the VAT Invoice for Purchased Export Goods ÷ (1 + VAT Rate) × Export Tax Refund Rate

For example: You purchased a batch of cell phone cases from a factory at a purchase price of 11,300 yuan (including tax), and the factory issued a special VAT invoice with the number 13%. The tax refund rate for exporting cell phone cases under code 9810 is 13%, so the tax refund amount for this batch of goods = 11,300 ÷ 1.13 × 0.13 = 1,300 yuan.

Second.Consumption Tax Refund: If excise taxes are levied on exported goods at the domestic level (such as cosmetics, automobiles, and alcohol), the full amount of excise tax actually paid will be refunded upon export.

But there's one key point here—“What Can Be Returned?”It's not about the product category, but rather aboutAre all three documents present?::

First,Purchase Invoice. The VAT special invoice must be issued by a supplier with general taxpayer status for VAT. Invoices issued by small-scale taxpayers are not eligible for tax refunds; they can only be used as cost deductions.

Second,Export Customs Declaration Form. For the 9810 procedure, you must file an ”export customs declaration” with customs, providing accurate information on the exporter and consignee, the destination country, the HS code for the goods, and the export value. If you use a ”third-party export” arrangement or file the declaration under someone else’s name—resulting in a discrepancy between the shipper listed on the documents and the entity eligible for the tax refund—the tax refund application will be rejected.

Third,Foreign Exchange Receipt. You must receive foreign currency from overseas buyers or platforms and have valid bank records of foreign currency receipts. Payment receipts from platforms such as Amazon, eBay, and Shopee can serve as proof of foreign currency receipt, but you must obtain a stamped ”Platform Transaction Certificate” issued by the platform.

With all three documents in order,The tax refund processing time for Form 9810 is 30–45 business days after filing.. If any of the required documents are missing, the tax refund process may be extended to 3–6 months or even be rejected.

03

9810 vs. 9610: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Many sellers struggle with the question, ”Should I use 9810 or 9610?” In reality, it depends on your product’s features and your financial situation:

9810 is suitable for:中大件商品（家居、健身器材、家电）、高客单价（>50美元）、需要快速时效（亚马逊Prime）、月销量稳定（>500单）。

优点：到货快（2-5天）、买家体验好、退货率低（<8%）。

Disadvantages: High initial capital requirements (you must first stock the overseas warehouse), high inventory risk (unsold inventory results in a loss), and strict documentation requirements for tax refunds.

9610 is suitable for:轻小件商品（配饰、3C配件、化妆品小样）、低客单价（<30美元）、测款阶段（不知道哪款能爆）。

Advantages: Low startup capital (drop shipping), low inventory risk (stop selling if items don’t sell), and a simple tax refund process (each invoice corresponds to a single order).

Disadvantages: Slow delivery (7–15 days), poor buyer experience, high return rate (15–20%), and high logistics costs as a percentage of total costs (30%+).

Hands-on advice:Use the 9610 during the new product testing phase, and once a high-potential model is identified, switch to the 9810 for mass production.. This is the most common dual-mode combination in 2026.

04

Real Invoice: How Much Tax Is Refunded on a 30,000 Order?

Here is a set of real data (from Mr. Huang’s Store No. 9810, based on actual operations in Q2 of 2026).

Product: Cat litter box, plastic home goods category.

9810 Model: First, ship products in bulk via ocean freight to Amazon FBA overseas fulfillment centers; once orders are placed, they are shipped from FBA.

Q2 (April–June) Order Data: 32,000 orders, average order value of $28, and total sales of $896,000.

Purchasing Cost: $1.2 million (including tax; approximately 8.7 million RMB). The factory issued a 13% VAT special invoice.

Calculation of Export Tax Rebates under Form 9810:

VAT Refund = 8.7 million ÷ 1.13 × 0.13 = 1 million RMB ≈ $140,000

Consumption Tax: This product category is not subject to consumption tax; the tax refund amount is 0.

All in all,The 9810 model helped Mr. Huang earn an extra $140,000 in Q2...which is equivalent to a 5-percentage-point increase in net profit.

However, this is contingent on having all three documents. If any one of them is missing, the 140,000 will not be refunded, and you may also be subject to late filing fees (0.05‰ per day) and penalties.

05

5 Common Pitfalls: 90% Sellers Fall into the 2nd and 3rd Ones

The 5 Most Common Pitfalls of the 9810 Tax Refund in 2026:

The first pitfall,“Pay-and-Export”. Using someone else’s import/export rights for customs clearance may save you trouble initially, but when it comes time to claim a tax refund, the discrepancy between the shipper listed on the documents and the entity eligible for the refund can result in the entire batch of tax refund claims being rejected. We recommend clearing customs under your own company’s name or using a licensed customs broker.

The second pitfall,Non-compliant purchase invoices. If a factory issues an invoice but does not have ”general VAT taxpayer” status (invoices issued by small-scale taxpayers have a tax rate of 3% or 1%), such invoices cannot be used for export tax rebates. Be sure to verify the supplier’s qualifications before signing a contract.

The third pitfall,Delays in Receiving Foreign Currency. Circular No. 9810 requires ”customs declaration before foreign exchange receipt,” but many Amazon sellers are accustomed to using PingPong or Payoneer to convert U.S. dollars into RMB first, which means the foreign exchange does not enter the domestic company’s account directly. When filing for a tax refund, this requires going through the ”pending verification” process again, prolonging the refund cycle.

The fourth pitfall,Incorrect HS Code Selection. If the wrong HS code is selected during customs declaration for 9810, it may result in an incorrect tax refund rate. For example, the tax refund rate for plastic household goods (HS 3924) is 13%, but if “plastic products” (HS 3926) is selected instead, the tax refund rate may drop to 9% or even lower. Refund rates vary significantly by product category, so HS codes must be verified on a case-by-case basis.

The fifth pitfall,Discrepancies Between Book and Actual Inventory at Overseas Warehouses. Regulation 9810 requires that overseas warehouse inventory match the quantities declared in export customs declarations; however, in practice, many sellers fail to declare ”restocking” or ”transfer” activities in a timely manner, resulting in inventory discrepancies during customs audits. It is recommended to conduct a monthly ”overseas warehouse inventory count and customs declaration reconciliation.”

It's not that 9810 can't be done; it's thatThe documentation compliance requirements are one level higher than those for 9610.. If your product is suitable for the 9810 category (high average order value + stable order volume) and you can provide all the required documentation, the tax refund benefits under the 9810 category are 2–3 times higher than those under the 9610 category.

Scan the QR code to add Qicaiying’s online customer service

—— E N D ——