From October 1, 2015, business license, tax registration and organization code certificate have integrated into one business license (“3-in-1”) with a unified social credit code containing all information that is recognizable by all Chinese authorities. The idea of 3-in-1 was initiated by the State Council in June 2015 by and under the Opinions of the General Office of the State Council Regarding Acceleration of Reform and Combination of Three into One Certificate 2015. The new 3-in-1 initiative is applicable to all entities except for individual business.

Previously, there are 4 applications that were required for submission and application of documents that need being lodged at the following governmental departments when registering a company:

  • Industrial and Commercial Bureau; 
  • Quality and Technology Supervision Bureau; 
  • State Tax Bureau; and 
  • Local Tax Bureau.

Contrast to 26 documents required prior to the reform, after the 3-in-1 reform, only an application is required to be lodged at local Industrial and Commercial Bureau with 13 documents. It is sufficient to meet the procedural requirements of all government authorities. The 3-in-1 reform is a great leap forward and move of simplifying and accelerating business and company registration in China. The ultimate goal is step by step to make China become a more investment-friendly destination for international business and with less red tape.


“三证合一” – 一项推进效率和刺激市场的重大改革

自2015年10月1日起，工商营业执照、组织机构代码证和税务登记证将合并为一个加载法人和其他组织统一社会信用代码的营业执照（“三证合一”）。改革依据2015年6月23日国务院办公厅发布的《国务院办公厅关于加快推进“三证合一”登记制度改革的意见》（国办发[2015]50号）。除个体工商户，新的三证合一制度使用所有的市场主体。

相比于改革前需要去工商、质监、国税和地税四个部门分别递交申请，现在申请人只需向工商综合窗口提交一份申请，其中包括13份申请材料（过去总计26份）。“三证合一”极大地简化和加速了中国的营业登记流程。中国正逐渐成为一个带有巨大商机的友好投资地。