Regarding China Import Duty for Printing Presses

(NPES International E-commerce Website, June 2, 2006) Current China National Development and Reform Agency, and National Finance Ministry do not have yet any new policy on the importation tax for imported printing presses. Therefore all related procedures will be handled in accordance of the  National Encouraged Developing Industries, Products and Technologies and Finance Ministry issued The Directory of China Duty-free Exemption Imported Commercial products for  Investment Projects– 2000 revised version 《国内投资项目不予免税的进口商品目录- 2000年修订》.  However, it is over 6 years after this document was issued; including related documents issued by China Economic and Trade Administration, as well as by China Customs, there have been tremendous changes taking places in China's economic development during this period.  Previously issued Directory and related documents have been obsolete.  According to Printing Industry Association of China and China Press and Publication Administration, China National Development and Reform Agency, and National Finance Ministry are ready to issue a new updated Directory to replaced the old one within 2006.  The new duty is expected to separate web presses into different category such as newspaper printing and commercial printing.  It plans to increase requirement for printing speed upward to 70,000 SPH instead of current 60,000 SPH for duty exemption.  Commercial web presses using coated stock are expected to have the requirement reduced to below 60,000 SPH to receive the tax break.  

According to the 2000 Directory, imported printing presses production running speed lower than 60,000 SPH (sheet per hour) would be taxed.  Sheet size is required as of 394×273mm.  If any of imported printing presses including sheet-fed and web-fed will be exempted from tax if they meet this requirement.

《国内投资项目不予免税的进口商品目录（2000年修订）》
The Directory of China None-tax Exemption Imported Commercial products for  Investment Projects – 2000 revised version

Customs code
84431100 84431200 84431910	单纸张胶印机 Sheetfed offset	多色，印刷速度≤15000张（394×273mm）/小时 Multi-color, printing speed ≤15,000 SPH (394mmx273mm)
84431100	卷筒纸胶印机 Web offset	印刷速度≤60000张（394×273mm）/小时 Printing speed ≤60,000 SPH (394mmx273mm)