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legalservicesworldwide1二零一三年十一月November201301中国有关简化外商投资外汇监管的近期发展RecentDevelopmentsinChinatoStreamlineForeignExchangeControlonForeignInvestment14为避税而签订的股权转让合同/条款被中国最高人民法院判定无效EquityTransferAgreementSignedandFiledforCircumventingTaxDutiesWasHeldInvalidbythePRCSupremePeople’sCourtGlobalLawBulletin|November2013*刘成伟ByAlexLiu在刚刚发布的《中共中央关于全面深化改革若干重大问题的决定》中，提出要“建立健全宏观审慎管理框架下的外债和资本流动管理体系，加快实现人民币资本项目可兑换。”IntherecentlypublishedCCPCentralCommitteeDecisionConcerningCertainMajorIssuesinComprehensivelyDeepeningReform,Chinadecidestoestablishandcompleteforeigndebtandcapitalflowcontrolsystemsunderprudentialmacro-levelmanagementframework,acceleratetherealizationoftheconvertibilityofRenminbicapitalaccounts.实际上，自2012年年底以来，中国的外汇监管机构国家外汇管理局（“外管局”）就已发布了许多重要法规，以进一步完善和简化外汇监管体系。其中，涉及外商投资项下资本项目的有下列重要规则：Actually,sincelate2012,theChineseforeignexchangecontrolauthority,theStateAdministrationofForeignExchange(theSAFE)hasreleasedsomeimportantrulestostreamlineandfurtherimprovetheforeignexchangecontrolsystems.Amongthosearethefollowingsinregardtocapitalaccountsunderforeigninvestments:《国家外汇管理局关于印发外国投资者境内直接投资外汇管理规定及配套文件的通知》，自2013年5月13日起生效（下称“外管局21号文”）；以及SAFECircularonPublishingtheProvisionsonForeignExchangeControlonDomesticDirectInvestmentbyForeignInvestorsandtheOperatingGuidelines,effectiveasofMay13,2013(SAFECircular21);and《国家外汇管理局关于进一步改进和调整直接投资外汇管理政策的通知》，自2012年12月17日起生效（下称“外管局59号文”）。SAFECircularonFurtherImprovingandAdjustingtheForeignExchangeControlPolicyonDirectInvestment,effectiveasofDecember17,2012(SAFECircular59).上述规则旨在简化境内的外商投资外汇监管体SuchrulesaimtostreamlinetheforeignGlobalLawBulletin|November2013系，并对之前施行的监管制度做出了一些重大调整。因此，有必要简单梳理一下这些规则中的一些重要要求和调整。为了便于更清晰地了解中国复杂的外汇管理制度，下文将按照外商投资的通常流程分环节进行梳理。exchangecontrolsystemsoverforeigninvestmentsinChina.Theybringalotofimportantchangestotheformercontrolsystems.Itisthushelpfultohaveasurveyofthekeyrequirementsandchangesundersuchnewrules.TobemoreclearerandeasiertounderstandChinesecomplicatedforeignexchangecontrolsystems,thesurveybelowwillfollowastep-by-stepstyleinlinewiththecommonforeigninvestmentprocedures.简单来看，境内外商投资的一般流程可以作如下图示：Briefly,thefollowingflowchartindicatesthecommonproceduresofinboundinvestmentinChina:1.第一步：前期费用1.StepOne:UpfrontExpenses外国投资者在设立外商投资企业（“FIE”）之前可能会产生一些前期费用。早在十多年前，中国就已经允许外国投资者开立此类前期费用的外汇账户（“前期费用账户”）了。而外管局59号文则从如下方面简化了一些要求：Upfrontexpensesmayoccurbeforetheforeigninvestorsetsupaforeigninvestedenterprise(FIE).Earlytenyearsago,Chinahasalreadyallowedforeigninvestorstoopenaforeignexchangeaccountforsuchupfrontexpenses(theUpfrontExpenseAccount).TheSAFECircular59furtherfacilitatestheproceduresinthefollowingaspects:前期费用账户事项之前要求现行政策监管规则外管局[2003]30号文外管局59号文；外管局21号文，附表1.1&2.1账户类型（投资类；收购类；费用类或保证类）专用外汇账户前期费用外汇账户开户外管局事先核准外管局登记即可流入限额10万美元30万美元；当地外管局个案审核后可以给予更高限额结汇外管局事先核准直接到银行办理向FIE资本金账户划外管局事先核准直接到银行办理GlobalLawBulletin|November2013个月，最长可12个月UpfrontExpenseAccountMatterBeforeCurrentRulesSAFECircular[2003]30SAFECircular59;SAFECircular21,Forms1.1&2.1AccountsTypeSpecialAccounts(Investment;Acquisition;Expense;orGuarantee)UpfrontExpenseAccountAccountOpeningPriorSAFEapprovalrequiredSAFEregistrationsufficesInflowQuotaUSD100,000USD300,000;Higherquotapossibleifapprovedbylocalauthorityonacase-by-casebasisRMBConversionPriorSAFEapprovalrequiredDirectlywiththebankTransfertotheFIECapitalAccountPriorSAFEapprovalrequiredDirectlywiththebankBalanceRepatriationPriorSAFEapprovalrequiredDirectlywiththebankValidity3months6months,or12monthsatmost2.第二步：FIE设立2.StepTwo:FIESet-up2.1新设设立FIE2.1Set-upbyIncorporation从外汇监管的角度来看，新设立一家FIE时所涉及的外汇程序可以图示如下：Fromtheperspectiveofforeignexchangecontrol,theproceduresinvolvedinsettingupanewFIEmaybeillustratedasbelow:GlobalLawBulletin|November2013①新设外商投资企业基本信息登记(附表1.2)①NewlySet-upFIEBasicInformationRegistration(Form1.2)FIE应向其注册地外管局办理本项登记。外管局21号文附表1.2规定了本项登记的具体指引。FIEshallhandlethisregistrationwiththelocalSAFEofwhereitsregistereddomicileislocated.Form1.2ofSAFECircular21providesforthedetailsofthisregistration.有关这方面的一个主要变化是，完成登记后的FIE将获颁加盖当地外管局公章的《业务登记凭证》。自2013年5月起，之前使用的《外汇登记证》或IC卡不再使用。在申请前述《业务登记凭证》时，FIE需要填写《境内直接投资基本信息登记业务申请表》。Onekeychangeisthatuponregistration,theFIEwillbeissuedwiththeMatterRegistrationVoucher(业务登记凭证)withlocalSAFE'sstampthereon.TheformerlyusedForeignExchangeRegistrationCertificateorICCardceasedtobeusedsinceMay2013.TogettheaforesaidMatterRegistrationVoucher,theFIEshallfillintheApplicationFormfortheDomesticDirectInvestmentBasicInformationRegistrationMatter.②FIE外汇资本金账户的开立(附表2.2)②FIE'sOpeningofForexCapitalAccount(Form2.2)与前期费用账户相似，外管局59号文也取消了有关FIE外汇资本金账户开户的外管局事先核准要求。FIE现在可以凭借外商投资企业基本信息登记的《业务登记凭证》，直接去银行开立外汇资本金账户。外管局21号文附表2.2规定了该等账户开立的具体细节。LiketheUpfrontExpenseAccount,SAFECircular59abolishestheprecedentSAFEapprovalrequirementfortheopeningoftheFIE'sForexCapitalAccount.TheFIEcannowproceeddirectlywiththebanktoopenitsForexCapitalAccount,onstrengthoftheaforesa