The 15th Five-Year Plan: Early Tax Signals Your Business Should Act On

As we approach the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee (scheduled for March 2026), which will formally set the course for China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), the government has already begun releasing key implementing regulations. Among the first to arrive are a series of import tax policies designed to support national strategic goals.

For businesses, these early announcements are not just policy notices—they are actionable intelligence. Below, we summarise the five most critical import tax exemptions published to date, their effective periods, and what they mean for eligible enterprises.

1. Supporting Scientific & Educational Innovation

Document: Cai Guan Shui [2026] No. 7
Ministries: Ministry of Finance (MOF), General Administration of Customs (GAC), State Taxation Administration (STA)

Who benefits: Scientific research institutions, technology development organisations, schools, party schools (academies of governance), and libraries.

The incentive:

• Duty-free scope: Imported goods that cannot be produced domestically or cannot meet performance needs for scientific research, technological development, and teaching.
  
• Taxes exempted: Import tariff, import-linked VAT, and consumption tax.
  
• For publications: Imported books and materials for research/teaching by designated publication import entities are exempt from import-linke VAT.
  

Effective Period: 1 January 2026 – 31 December 2030

Implication: Institutions planning major equipment or literature acquisitions should align procurement cycles with this window to achieve significant cost savings.

2. Boosting Science Popularisation & Public Education

Document: Cai Guan Shui [2026] No. 12
Ministries: MOF, GAC, STA

Who benefits: Science museums, natural history museums, planetariums, observatories, meteorological and seismic stations open to the public, as well as university-affiliated science venues and bases.

The incentive:
Exemption from import tariff and import-linke VAT on:

• Audiovisual materials: Copies, work tapes, or hard drives imported for acquiring broadcasting rights to foreign science popularisation content.
  
• Equipment & exhibits: Scientific instruments, equipment, and exhibits for self-use that cannot be sourced domestically or meet performance requirements.
  

Effective Period: 1 January 2026 – 31 December 2030

Implication: A targeted incentive for organisations investing in public science engagement, reducing the cost of acquiring high-quality international content and exhibits.

3. Equipping National Fire & Rescue Teams

Document: Cai Guan Shui [2026] No. 15
Ministries: MOF, GAC, STA

Who benefits: China’s national comprehensive fire and rescue teams.

The incentive:

• Duty-free scope: Imported fire and rescue equipment that cannot be produced domestically or cannot meet performance requirements.
  
• Taxes exempted: Import tariff, import-linked VAT, and consumption tax.
  
• Oversight: The National Fire and Rescue Administration must submit annual evaluation reports to the MOF, detailing imports, tax exemptions, and policy effectiveness.
  

Effective Period: 1 January 2026 – 31 December 2030

Implication: Ensures frontline teams have access to the world’s best life-saving technology without cost barriers.

4. Fuelling Energy Exploration & Production

Document: Cai Guan Shui [2026] No. 16
Ministries: MOF, GAC, STA

Who benefits: Entities engaged in offshore oil and gas exploration, development, and pipeline emergency rescue operations in China’s territorial waters, continental shelf, and other maritime zones under its jurisdiction.

The incentive:

• Scope: Equipment, instruments, spare parts, special tools (and related technical documentation) directly used in exploration, development, or emergency rescue that cannot be sourced domestically.
  
• For self-operated projects: Import tariff exemption.
  
• For Sino-foreign cooperative projects: Exemption from both import tariff and import-linked VAT.

Effective Period: 1 January 2026 – 31 December 2030

Implication: A significant cost reducer for both domestic and international players in China’s offshore energy sector, encouraging investment and technological import.

5. Strengthening Agriculture & Specialised Breeding Programs

Document: Cai Guan Shui [2026] No. 18
Ministries: MOF, GAC, STA

Who benefits:

• Agricultural entities importing improved seeds and breeding stock.
  
• Scientific institutions, zoos, botanical gardens, and professional conservation units importing wildlife species for research, breeding, or propagation.
  
• Military, public security (including anti-smuggling police), national security, and fire and rescue departments importing working dogs (police, military, rescue), as well as their semen and embryos.

The incentive: Exemption from import-linked VAT on eligible imports.

• Critical note: While VAT is exempt, many items under this policy remain subject to customs supervision as “reduced-duty goods,” requiring adherence to usage conditions.

Effective Period: 1 January 2026 – 31 December 2030

• Retroactive relief: For eligible imports made between 1 January 2026 and the issuance of supporting lists, duties already paid can be refunded (with interest) if applications are filed within 30 days of the list’s publication.

Implication: Directly lowers the cost of genetic improvement and specialised breeding programs, supporting agricultural modernisation and national security needs.

Looking Ahead: Your Next Steps

These five circulars are just the first wave. The State Taxation Administration has indicated that more detailed implementing rules and additional policy incentives will be rolled out progressively through March 2026.

What should businesses do now?

1. Map your eligibility: Carefully review the five policies above. Does your entity type and import activity fall within any of the defined scopes?
2. Prepare your documentation: For policies like No. 18 (seed/breeding stock) that require pre-approval or inclusion on specific lists, begin engaging with the relevant supervisory authorities (e.g., Ministry of Agriculture, National Forestry and Grassland Administration).
3. Plan procurement timing: Where possible, align major import purchases with the official effective dates (1 January 2026) to maximise benefit.
4. Stay informed: We will continue to monitor and analyse new circulars as they emerge. Bookmark this page or subscribe to our updates to ensure you don’t miss critical information that could directly impact your bottom line.

The 15th Five-Year Plan period is set to be defined by high-quality development and technological self-reliance. These initial tax policies offer a clear signal: the government is willing to use fiscal tools to support the entities driving these national priorities. For eligible organisations, understanding and acting on these signals is the first step toward turning policy into competitive advantage.

For any information feel free to contact us.