After a China property sale—or after inheriting and then liquidating—the usual sequence is tax clearance, then the documents, then foreign-exchange purchase and remittance at a designated bank. The specific documents follow the list the handling bank sets out under the foreign-exchange rules currently in force. Delays more often come from the stalls below than from “not knowing to use a bank.” This page is principles only. Whether funds can go out, which papers are enough, and how long review takes depend on a complete file and the FX rules and bank review then in force. Nothing here promises a one-shot remittance or an arrival date. Use lawful bank channels only; informal exchange houses are not a substitute.
Who this helps
- Remitting sale proceeds after disposing of China real estate;
- Remitting after inheritance and liquidation of China assets;
- Equity exits and similar lawful proceeds—those paths cross more tax and registration steps and should be reviewed case by case; this page does not expand them.
Principle sequence (don’t reverse)
- Obtain tax clearance certificates after the required filings;
- Assemble the pack the designated bank lists at that time (contract, title, identity, source-of-funds notes, and the rest);
- Apply at a designated bank for FX purchase and remittance.
If inheritance is unfinished and title is not yet in the heir’s name, selling or applying to remit usually stalls on who the seller is and whether tax and contract line up. Clear the inheritance path first. Document direction: overseas inheritance documents checklist. Overview of liquidation and remittance: asset liquidation and fund repatriation.
Five common stalls
- Incomplete tax certificates, or wrong tax assumptions: Statutory heirs generally do not pay individual income tax at the inheritance stage. Statutory heirs who inherit title to land or housing are exempt from deed tax under Article 6 of the Deed Tax Law of the People's Republic of China. Whether tax is payable on a later sale, and how much, is assessed by the tax authority under the rules in force at the time of sale.
- Contract, title, and ID mismatches: buyer/seller names, registered owner, and passport spelling often fail to line up; banks and registries commonly ask for an explanation or a supplement.
- Thin source-of-funds for large amounts or multiple assets: banks may ask for a fuller trail. This page does not promise a one-shot remittance.
- Applying to purchase foreign exchange and remit without a tax payment certificate, or before the transfer of title is complete: the papers do not line up, and the file is often returned.
- Underestimating remote POA and Apostille time: signing abroad, notarization, Apostille (or other authentication), and mailing originals takes a length of time that varies widely from case to case. What is required depends on the issuing country and the receiving bank or registry.
Indicative documents (lists differ by bank)
Branches do not use one nationwide pack. The following is indicative only—not a promise that this set will pass on the first try:
- Passport or other identity documents;
- Sale contract;
- Title or transfer proof (for example a new real-estate certificate or registration result);
- Tax clearance certificates;
- Source-of-funds notes and any other items that bank asks for.
Timing
The time required varies widely from case to case. Supplements, large amounts, multiple assets, and cross-border authorization usually take longer. Nothing here promises a processing time or an arrival date.
If you would like a principles-level check
Please share: country of residence; asset type and city; and whether tax clearance is done or still in progress. We can reply with a principles-level checklist. That reply is not an outcome guarantee and does not mean remittance will be approved.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Tax authorities and designated banks decide what they will accept.
Contact: +86 173 2109 9752 · zhaohaiying@lantai.cn · Lantai (Shanghai) · zhaohaiyinglvshi.com
Related: 中文版 · Asset liquidation and fund repatriation · Inheritance to remittance