Consumer Rights Day takes you to know about invoice rights protection knowledge.

On the occasion of "March 15th International Consumer Rights Day", Chongqing tax authorities, in conjunction with the judicial and market supervision departments, organized personnel to go into business districts, plazas, markets and other places to distribute brochures, popularize consumer rights protection, invoice rights protection, tax law knowledge and other contents, guide business entities to standardize their operations, protect consumers’ legitimate rights and interests, and create a secure consumption environment.

Xiushan county tax officials came to the building materials market, gas stations, etc. to publicize invoice rights protection and tax law knowledge. Lai Tingying

"If the merchant refuses to issue invoices, consumers can provide clues to the tax authorities, which will order them to make corrections and impose a fine of less than 10,000 yuan. If there is illegal income, it will be confiscated." On March 12th, Zhongxian County Taxation Bureau organized a youth propaganda team of "Zhongba Car" to enter the local wanda plaza, and distributed "Invoice Use Risk Tips" to more than 100 settled businesses, informing them that when they collect money from business, they should issue invoices to consumers truthfully in time, and the legal consequences that enterprises will bear if they refuse to open or falsely issue invoices, so as to answer specific problems encountered by businesses in invoicing.

"We are still in the early stage of our business, and we don’t know much about taxation. Taxpayers come to the door to coach and invoice, reminding us of risks, which makes us more aware." Wang Yang, head of the Frodora children’s wear store in wanda plaza, Zhongxian County, said.

In the past few days, Chongqing tax authorities have focused on various small and medium-sized micro-business entities in the consumer market, organized personnel to explain the use norms and risk points of invoices, and provided one-on-one guidance on invoicing operations to guide them to operate in good faith according to law. For the vast number of consumers, through the distribution of brochures, broadcast promotional videos and other means, help consumers understand the tax knowledge closely related to their own rights and interests, encourage citizens to obtain invoices according to law, and actively resist fake invoices.

"Log in to the national VAT invoice inspection platform in State Taxation Administration of The People’s Republic of China and enter the invoice information to check the authenticity of the invoice in your hand." On March 15th, Yunyang County Taxation Bureau and the local market supervision bureau launched a consumer rights day publicity campaign. At the scene, tax officials explained to the public the way to check the authenticity of invoices, and sent hot question-and-answer manuals such as "No invoices for discounts", "No invoices for group purchase packages" and "No invoices for cross-month".

Chongqing tax authorities reminded that the current laws, regulations and related policies do not clearly stipulate the time limit for invoicing. The stipulations of merchants, such as not being able to issue invoices across months, are only unilateral acts and have no legal basis. Invoicing has nothing to do with whether it is discounted or not. Discounting is only a way for merchants to promote sales. Regardless of whether consumers buy goods at regular prices or consume discounted goods, as long as there is business behavior, sellers should issue invoices according to law.

At the publicity activities of Shapingba District International Consumer Festival, the tax officials in Shapingba District are explaining the invoice-related policies. Photo by Chen Saiya

On March 13th, the tax bureau of Wulong District organized eight staff members to distribute self-made comic brochures such as "Asking for invoices from merchants has these benefits" and "Guide to Consumer Invoicing" in the city square. "The merchant said that the service provided is not within the business scope of the business license and the ticket cannot be opened. Is it true?" In response to questions from the public, tax officials in Wulong District said that taxpayers should invoice according to the facts, even if they are beyond the business scope of the business license, except that the state has ordered them to ban sales and have industry access qualifications.

In the series of consumer rights day publicity activities, Chongqing tax authorities also set up a report account according to the reports and complaints of alleged infringement reflected by the people on the spot, and took corresponding measures to deal with, solve and feedback within a limited time to fully safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of consumers.

On the morning of March 15th, at the publicity activity of consumer rights protection held in Jinjie Square, West City, Baishiyi, Hi-tech Zone, the Taxation Bureau of Hi-tech Zone set up a reporting desk for tax violations. Ms. Zhang, a citizen, said, "Last week, I went to eat hot pot with my friends, and the store owner said that the checkout was discounted and I couldn’t issue an invoice."

"You tell me the consumption record, business information and contact information, and we will feedback the processing results to you as soon as possible after investigation and verification." The tax personnel recorded the report information reflected by Ms. Zhang on the spot and contacted the staff to handle the feedback in time.

On March 15th, in Shuiyuan Mall, Wuxi County, tax officials were explaining the contents of invoice rights protection to the public. Photo by Xiao Wei

According to the relevant person in charge of Chongqing Taxation Bureau, invoice disputes account for a large proportion in daily tax-related reporting cases. As long as there is consumption behavior, consumers have the right to ask the payee to issue invoices, regardless of the amount and method of consumption. The payee’s refusal to issue invoices or false invoices for any reason violates the Measures for the Administration of Invoices in People’s Republic of China (PRC).

If consumers encounter merchants who refuse to issue invoices for any reason or have doubts about the invoices they have received, they can call the 12366 tax payment service hotline or log on to the official website of Chongqing Taxation Bureau, and click "Report on Tax Violations" in the "Interactive Communication" column to report online. (Tang Jinrong)

Source: Chongqing Municipal Taxation Bureau

■ Extended reading

State Taxation Administration of The People’s Republic of China National VAT Invoice Inspection Platform: https://inv-veri.chinatax.gov.cn