he annual individual income tax settlement season is approaching! If you are eligible for a tax refund, it’s exciting to anticipate that extra money. However, sometimes foreigners encounter a frustrating issue: after successfully submitting their annual settlement, the refund money doesn't arrives in their bank card. What’s going wrong?

One of the most common reasons is a mismatch in your name order across different official systems.

Here’s the problem:

When you file your settlement, the system checks your identity across several platforms. If the name order on your bank card (e.g., Given Name Surname) does not match the name order registered in the national individual income tax system (e.g., Surname Given Name), the refund transfer shall fail.

But it’s not just your bank account! There’s another crucial checkpoint: your SIM card.

Chinese authorities, including the tax bureau, frequently use mobile number-based real-name authentication for verification. If the name order associated with your SIM card (the one used for SMS verification) does not match your name order in the tax system, the authentication may fail, ultimately blocking the refund process as well as other tax works.

How to Avoid This Headache?  The Golden Rule: UNIFORM NAME ORDER.

To ensure a smooth tax refund and hassle-free authentication for all government services, you must use one consistent name order for all your official registrations in China. And emphasize the order of your name:

• Your SIM card issued by the telecom operator your registered

• Your bank card issued by the bank your chose

• Your salary individual income tax filing information provided by you to your accountant

• Your individual income tax APP