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How many digits is the Export Agent Certificate number for 2026?

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I am an operations staff at a foreign trade company in Shanghai that exports consumer electronics. Recently, I encountered a problem when coordinating with our agent regarding the Export Agent Certificate: the number provided by the agent is 20 digits long, but I heard from peers that it was 18 digits before.

I glanced at the General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 12 of 2026 last week which mentioned an adjustment to the digit count but didn't read it in detail. Now my client is pressing me for this certificate to file for tax refund, and I'm worried that filling in the wrong digit count will delay the tax refund.

Additionally, will there be differences in the digit count across different ports (such as Shanghai Yangshan Port and Shenzhen Yantian Port)? Could you please elaborate on the composition of the 2026 latest Export Agent Certificate number and how to quickly verify its validity?

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Expert Answer

Robert
RobertYears of service：6Customer Rating：5.0

Warehouse Management AdvisorStart a Chat

In 2026，the Export Agent Certificate number is uniformly 20 digits long. This is a clear adjustment specified in General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 12 of 2026，and the same standard applies to all ports across the country (including Shanghai，Shenzhen，etc.)，with no port-specific differences. Its digit composition can be broken down into three parts:

Part 1: The first 6 digits are the first 6 digits of the unified social credit code of the export agent enterprise (note that for enterprises that have renewed their credit codes in 2026，the old codes are no longer valid)，Part 2: The middle 8 digits are the last 8 digits of the corresponding export customs declaration number (for transshipment goods，the final customs clearance declaration number shall prevail)，Part 3: The last 6 digits are the unique serial number assigned by the agent enterprise for this export transaction (self-coded by the agent enterprise，and must be linked to the agency agreement and foreign exchange collection documents).

Core method to verify the validity of the number: Log into the "Single Window" Export Agent Certificate Inquiry Module of the General Administration of Customs，enter the 20-digit number，and the system will automatically link electronic documents such as customs declarations and agency agreements. The newly added mobile applet "Customs Connect" in 2026 also supports real-time verification. Common reasons for invalid numbers include: outdated credit code of the agent enterprise，incorrect customs declaration number (e.g。using the departure port declaration for transshipment goods)，and mismatch between the serial number and the transaction.

Note: After the tax refund system upgrade in 2026，incorrect digit count will directly lead to pre-declaration verification failure. It is recommended to check the link between the number and the customs declaration via the Single Window before submitting the tax refund application to avoid delaying the tax refund cycle.

William
WilliamYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0

International Logistics AdvisorStart a Chat

The linkage between the Export Agent Certificate number and the customs declaration is the core logic. After the integration of customs declarations in 2026, the original 18-digit customs declaration number has been expanded to 21 digits, but the agent certificate adopts the last 8 digits, which is the key reason for the change from 18 to 20 digits.

For transshipment goods: if the departure port declaration number is different from the customs clearance declaration number, the last 8 digits of the clearance declaration must be used; otherwise, the customs system will fail to match. In addition, if the agent enterprise's credit code was renewed in 2026, the certificate with the old number will be deemed invalid, and you should require the agent enterprise to provide the latest credit certificate in advance.

Ella
EllaYears of service：10Customer Rating：5.0

Senior Financial AdvisorStart a Chat

The Export Agent Certificate number is one of the core documents for tax refund declaration. In 2026, the tax refund system requires the number to be "consistent across four streams" with the customs declaration, agency agreement, and foreign exchange collection documents. If the digit count is incorrect, the pre-declaration will directly pop up a "number format mismatch" prompt, and the verification cannot be skipped.

It is recommended to pre-verify the number via the State Taxation Administration's "Comprehensive Service Platform for Export Tax Refund" before declaration, and check whether the agent enterprise's credit code is filed on the platform (credit code filing verification was added in 2026). In addition, for transactions with foreign exchange collected via offshore accounts, the number must be linked to the corresponding customs declaration of the offshore account; otherwise, the tax refund progress will be affected.

Daniel
DanielYears of service：8Customer Rating：5.0

Legal AdvisorStart a Chat

The Export Agent Certificate number is a key identifier in foreign exchange receipt and payment. In 2026, the CIPS system requires accurate filling of the 20-digit number during declaration; otherwise, the declaration will fail. When receiving or making payments via offshore accounts, the number must match the "export agency identifier" on the customs declaration.

If the number is incorrect, the bank will require re-submission of the certificate. In addition, for cross-border RMB settlement, the number must be linked to the RMB customs declaration. It is recommended to pre-verify the number format via the bank's foreign exchange declaration system before declaration to avoid rejection due to format issues.

Olivia
OliviaYears of service：5Customer Rating：5.0

Senior Customs AdvisorStart a Chat

In 2026, electronic verification terminals have been added to on-site customs inspection. During inspection, the Export Agent Certificate number will be directly entered to link information such as customs declarations and cargo lists. If the digit count is incorrect, the terminal will prompt "number mismatch", leading to inspection detention.

It is recommended to check the linkage between the agent certificate number and the customs declaration before cargo loading, especially for transshipment goods, to confirm that the customs clearance declaration number has been updated in the certificate. In addition, the original paper certificate must be carried during inspection, and the electronic terminal will scan the number's barcode (added in 2026) for verification.

Sophia
SophiaYears of service：7Customer Rating：5.0

Senior Customs AdvisorStart a Chat

The Export Agent Certificate number is a core element of document filing. In 2026, the document filing system requires the number to be consistent with the paper certificate and electronic documents. If the digit count is incorrect, the tax verification letter will be directly rejected, and the filing materials must be re-submitted.

It is recommended to pre-verify the number via the system before filing, and check whether the agent enterprise's serial number corresponds to the business contract (serial number and contract linkage verification was added in 2026). In addition, for cross-month declaration transactions, the number must be linked to the current month's customs declaration to avoid invalidation due to cross-month issues.

Emily
EmilyYears of service：3Customer Rating：5.0

Client Success AdvisorStart a Chat

The Export Agent Certificate number is an important node in supply chain traceability. In 2026, the global supply chain traceability system requires the number to be accurate; otherwise, it will affect the subsequent circulation of goods (such as customs clearance on cross-border e-commerce platforms).

It is recommended to specify the provision time of the number (within 3 working days after customs clearance of the declaration) and format requirements (20 digits, with credit code and customs declaration number linkage instructions) when signing contracts with agent enterprises. In addition, under different trade terms (CIF/FOB), the number must be linked to the corresponding customs declaration to avoid number errors caused by changes in trade terms.

Note: We respect all users' opinions and contributions. However, comments and answers reflect the views of their respective authors only.
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