Newly-established foreign-invested production projects conforming to the industrial policies of Shenzhen, belonging to the encouraged category or allowed category in the Catalogue for the Guidance of Foreign Investment Industries and having a total investment below USD 30 million shall be examined and approved by district economic and trade authorities, and then be submitted to the Municipal Bureau of Trade and Industry for registration.

1. General industries
A. For foreign-invested enterprises, corporate income tax rate is lowered from the original 30% down to 15%, while the local income tax levied at the rate of 3% is exempted.
B. Foreign-invested manufacturing enterprises can enjoy two years of corporate income tax exemption and a half reduction for the ensuing three years according to the regulations of the tax law. Certified export-oriented enterprises at the expiration of tax exemption and reduction period enjoy a reduced rate of 10% for corporate income tax provided the export volume accounts for 70% or above of the total industrial output. Certified manufacturing enterprises using state-of-the-art technologies at the expiration of tax exemption and reduction period are entitled to a reduced tax rate of 10% for a 3-year extension.
C. Half of the land use fee for the land for industrial use utilized by certified export-oriented enterprises will be exempted. Half of the land use fee for certified enterprises using state-of-the-art technologies will be exempted for five years.
D. Foreign-invested enterprises engaged in the service sector with an investment of over USD 5 million and an operation duration of over ten years can enjoy one year of corporate income tax exemption starting from the first profit-making year and half reduction for the ensuing 2 years.
E. Sino-foreign equity joint ventures engaged in port and dock construction projects with an operation period of over 15 years may enjoy the exemption of corporate income tax for the first five years starting from the first profit-making year and half reduction thereof for the ensuing five years after their applications are approved.

2. Integrated circuits industry
A. For integrated circuits manufacturing enterprises, from their certification until the end of 2010, a simultaneous levy and refund will be applied to the part exceeding 6% of the total VAT paid by integrated circuit manufacturers that are general taxpayers of VAT at the statutory tax rate of 17% for the sales of self-produced integrated circuit products. The refunded tax shall be used by the enterprises for R&D of IC products and expanded reproduction, and shall not be subject to the levy of corporate income tax.
B. Accelerated depreciation can be applied to the production equipment of IC manufacturers. The shortest depreciation term of the production equipment of IC manufacturers can be three years after being approved by authoritative organizations in case of domestically-invested enterprises, and by the State Administration of Taxation in case of joint-venture or exclusively foreign-invested enterprises.
C. For preferential tax policies applied to IC manufacturing enterprises established in Shenzhen, please refer to those applied to the foreign-invested enterprises engaged in the construction of ports, wharves, energy and traffic projects with a duration of over 15 years. These enterprises can enjoy five years of corporate income tax exemption from the first profit-making year and a half reduction for the ensuing five years upon application and authorization by taxation authorities.
D. IC manufacturing enterprises can set aside 15% of yearly net sales as an R&D fee. If the R&D fee drawn is not used in that year, the balance may be carried over to the next year. If the investment of an enterprise in R&D exceeds the amount of the R&D fee drawn, the exceeding part may be stated as R&D expenses.
E. Self-use raw materials and consumables for production imported by integrated-circuit manufacturing enterprises are exempt from tariff and import-related VAT.
F. IC technologies, complete sets of production equipment and other apparatuses specially for IC manufacturing imported by IC manufacturing enterprises are exempt from tariff and import-related VAT. This does not apply to the commodities listed in the Catalog of Non-Tax-Free Imported Commodities for Foreign-Invested Projects and the Catalog of Non-Tax-Free Imported Commodities for Domestically-Invested Projects stipulated by the State Council's Guofa [1997] No. 37 Document.
G. For IC manufacturing enterprises with an investment of over RMB 8 billion or IC line width less than 0.25um, the preferential taxation policies for foreign-invested enterprises engaged in energy and traffic prevail; the imported self-use raw materials and consumables for production shall be exempt from tariffs and import-related VAT.
H. Shenzhen Integrated Circuit Industrial Park is under planning for the first phase of construction of 3-5 km2. Certified integrated circuit manufacturing enterprises within the Industrial Park will be exempt from the fee for the right to the use of land, municipal supporting facilities fees and land development fees.
I. If the domestic and foreign senior professional technical and managing personnel utilized by IC manufacturers purchase commodity residential houses in Shenzhen, the payment for such houses may offset their taxable income.
J. If the domestic and foreign senior professional technical and managing personnel and their families needed by integrated circuit manufacturers settle in Shenzhen, they shall be free from the normal restriction of registered permanent residence in Shenzhen and shall enjoy exemption from paying the city infrastructure expansion fee.
K. Integrated circuit design enterprises are regarded as software enterprises, and enjoy the relevant taxation policies for the software enterprises.

3. Software industry
A. By 2010, simultaneous levy and refund will be applied to the part exceeding 3% of the actual VAT paid by the general taxpayers of VAT at the statutory tax rate of 17% for the sales of self-produced software products. The refunded tax shall be used by the enterprises for R&D of software products and expanded reproduction, and shall not be subject to the levy of corporate income tax.
If the general taxpayers of VAT export products of localized transformation such as conversion of imported software, the exported software may enjoy the simultaneous levy and refund policy according to the standards for self developed and produced software products.
B. Certified new software enterprises may enjoy two years of corporate income tax exemption from the first profit-making year and a half reduction for the ensuing three years. Software enterprises included in the country's planning or key software enterprises defined by provincial and municipal governments may enjoy five years of corporate income tax exemption and a half reduction for the ensuing five years. For the corporate income tax paid for the third to fifth year which is levied at a half reduced rate, the municipal financial authority shall provide a corresponding refund.
C. The total sum of pay and training expenditures for software manufacturing enterprises can be deducted from their taxable income.
D. If key software enterprises included in the country's planning did not enjoy tax incentives in the current year, the corporate income tax shall be levied at the deducted rate of 10%.
E. The self-use equipment, technologies (including software), accessories and parts imported together with the equipment according to the contract that are imported by software enterprises are exempt from tariff and import-related VAT, and this is not applied to the commodities listed in the Catalog of Non-Tax-Free Imported Commodities for Foreign-Invested Projects and the Catalog of Non-Tax-Free Imported Commodities for Domestically-Invested Projects.
F. Software enterprises are encouraged to pass international qualification certifications such as GB/T19000-ISO9000 certification or CMM certification. The Municipal Foreign Trade Development Fund supports those enterprises that have passed international qualification certification over CMM-2.
G. Shenzhen has established a software enterprise development center. The government shall provide subsidy to new software enterprises entering the center from a special fund for science and technology.
H. Software system analysts, system engineers engaged in software work, and software development personnel with university or college education or above, or semi-senior professional titles or above, or with important inventions and creations, along with their spouses and minor children are allowed to settle in Shenzhen (irrespective of transfer with spouse or work transport) and are exempted from paying the city infrastructure expansion fee.
I. For the software purchased by enterprises and institutions, if the purchase cost attains the standard of fixed assets or the software forms a part of intangible assets, the software can be calculated according to fixed assets or intangible assets. For domestically-invested enterprises, this shall be reported to the tax authority for approval; for the foreign-invested enterprises with a total investment of over USD 30 million, this shall be reported to the State Administration of Taxation for approval; for the foreign-invested enterprises with an investment of less than USD 30 million, this shall be reported to the tax authority for approval, and its depreciation or amortization duration can be shortened to as little as two years.

4. Logistics
A. For distribution centers and logistic enterprises set up in the six major logistics parks of Shenzhen, the price of land for their new constructions shall be charged at a preferential discount of 20%; for the projects in Sungang Logistic Park, the charge can be collected respectively at a 50% discount for commercial and warehousing counterparts, for the projects in the other five logistic parks, the charge can be collected respectively at a 25% and 75% discounting commercial and warehousing counterparts; the land price for logistic distribution projects can be paid in installments, with a maximum duration of three years. For electricity used in large-sized refrigerated warehouses and distribution centers of commercial, trade and circulation enterprises, the charge can be collected as per the standards for industrial electricity rates.
B. Enterprises for certified key logistic projects will enjoy preferential policies in using land and electricity, and can use "green channel" during project setup and construction with fast approval process.

5. Finance
A. Since 2003, designated funds for financial development have been arranged within the industrial development funds of the municipal government.
The designated funds for financial development mainly apply to: rewarding financial institutions that set up headquarters or regional headquarters in Shenzhen; subsidizing financial institutions acquiring offices for their headquarters or regional headquarters in Shenzhen; subsidizing financial institutions to rent offices for their headquarters or regional headquarters in Shenzhen; offering housing subsidies to senior management personnel of financial institutions in Shenzhen; serving as organizing and awarding fees of the Financial Innovation Award granted by the municipal government; serving as expenditure for conferences of the Financial Development Decision-Making Consulting Commission; serving as special expenditure to carry out research projects on the development of the financial industry organized by the municipal government, strengthen communication between the financial societies of Shenzhen and Hong Kong, and support Shenzhen financial institutions and industrial associations to host high-level forums; serving as other expenditure to support the development of the financial industry of Shenzhen.
Use of the designated funds of financial development shall be audited by the Municipal Financial Office and the Municipal Financial Bureau, and approved by competent municipal leaders. Detailed administrative measures for the funds shall be formulated by the Municipal Financial Bureau and the Municipal Financial Office.
B. Financial agencies with headquarters or regional headquarters in Shenzhen can enjoy a one-time subsidy from the special-purpose fund as per the standard of RMB 1,000 per m2 for their new office buildings.
C. Educational departments will give support to senior management personnel of financial agencies in terms of their children's schooling, and municipal and district educational departments shall arrange for their children to study in key schools. Upon approval by relevant departments, the children of foreigners can enjoy the preference to attend Shenzhen's international schools or other schools.
D. Sino-foreign joint ventures or foreign banks established in Shenzhen Economic Special Zone with a total investment of over USD 100 million and a duration of over 10 years may enjoy one year of corporate income tax exemption from the first profit-making year and half reduction for the ensuing two years; their income from financial business can enjoy five years of business tax exemption from the opening day.

6.Venture investment
A. If venture investment agencies invest in the projects listed in the Guide to Venture Capitals鈥?Investment in Hi-Tech Industries, and the total investment exceeds its registered capital or accounts for 70% of its total investment, and no less than 30% is invested in startup enterprises, then the venture investment agencies will enjoy the preferential policies for hi-tech enterprises.
The accumulated investment specified in the previous clause shall include the sum refunded and realized investment from invested enterprises within five years on calculation; and the investment by venture investment agencies shall be calculated according to the actual invested sum.
B. Venture investment agencies can draw risk compensation fund as per 5% of the yearly gross income to compensate for the investment losses of preceding years and the current year; the balance of the risk compensation fund can be carried forward to the next year, however, the total sum shall not exceed 10% of the net assets of the venture investment agencies in that year.
C. If venture investment agencies invest in Shenzhen鈥檚 hi-tech industries and other technological innovation industries, and the sum exceeds 70% of their total portfolio, the agencies can enjoy the relevant preferential policies of Shenzhen upon approval by the technological authority of the Municipal Government.
D. Starting in 2000, the Municipal Finance Bureau has prepared RMB 10 million, while the 鈥淭hree Funds for Technologies鈥?has prepared RMB 20 million each year to encourage overseas students to start up their own businesses in Shenzhen. First, the special-purpose fund will be used to set up and improve the Overseas Students Venture Park in the Hi-Tech Industrial Park; second, the fund will be used for preferential discounts of loans for the hi-tech enterprises set up by the overseas students.
E. The following encouraging policies will be employed for overseas students to undertake scientific research, investment and establishment of all kinds of industries in Shenzhen: those engaged in scientific research with research projects certified by the Municipal Technological Bureau as hi-tech projects can obtain one-time scientific research startup subsidy of RMB 100,000 - 150,000;
Authorities shall actively support overseas students engaged in go-between services such as evaluation, consultation and advising, or third industries. Overseas students will enjoy preferential policies for their investments in all domains except those forbidden by the country.
In the case of becoming a partner with patent or non-patent technological results, the evaluation of technological results can account for 25% of the registered capital. Upon certification by the Municipal Technological Bureau, the evaluation of hi-tech results can account for 35% of registered capital. Other forms can be undertaken if there are additional agreements between the partners.
F. Venture investments are encouraged in order to foster a venture investment market. Overseas and domestic investors are encouraged to set up venture investment agencies in Shenzhen. If venture investment agencies invest in projects in compliance with Shenzhen's hi-tech industry direction, the accumulated sum exceeds their registered capital or exceeds 70% of their investment, and no less than 30% is invested in startup enterprises, the agencies can enjoy the relevant preferential policies of Shenzhen. For those hi-tech projects in compliance with the government's direction, especially incubation projects, the municipal technological development fund will adopt multiple measures to present matching investment to the venture investment agencies. A warranty compensation fund and re-warranty system will be set up to encourage warranty agencies set up by governmental and social capital to give more support to the technological innovations of medium and small-sized technological enterprises.
G. In order to expand the scope of software and technology incubation through "reconstruction of workshops and replacement of industries", the Municipal Government will arrange for special-purpose funds, while district governments and relevant enterprises will contribute at a proportion of no less than 1:2 to reconstruct the existing old workshops into software parks and technological incubators.
H. To support the development of incubators, a maximum of RMB 3 million will be subsidized to the technological enterprise incubators certified by the technological authority of the Municipal Government, so as to support the construction of public facilities of the technological enterprise incubators such as public service platforms, network communications, and facilities and instruments for professional labs. The Municipal Government will invest in professional biological incubators.
I. The Municipal Government will arrange for a proportion of the three technology funds to serve as a special-purpose fund for construction of technological enterprise incubators, and subsidize on a one-time basis certified technological enterprise incubators. The subsidy for each technological enterprise incubator shall be 20% of its total investment, with a maximum subsidy of RMB 3 million.
J. Certified technological enterprise incubators shall be subsidized by the municipal finance from the day being certified by referring to the supporting policies for hi-tech enterprises.
K. According to the actual conditions, accelerated depreciation can be applied to the public service facilities of technological enterprise incubators upon approval by the tax authority according to related regulations, thus advancing the update and innovation of technological enterprise incubators.
L. In terms personnel transfer, graduates assignment, residence registration and procedures for going abroad or to Hong Kong and Macao, the enterprises to be incubated in the technological enterprise incubators will enjoy the preferential policies for the hi-tech enterprises of Shenzhen.

7.Processing with imported material
A. Except for commodities listed in the Catalogue of Import Commodities for Foreign-invested Projects Not Exempted from Import Tariff, the unpriced equipment provided by foreign investors for processing with imported material shall be exempted from customs duty and import-related value added tax.
B. Except for projects otherwise specified by the state, the imported materials and parts for processing with imported materials shall not be subject to quota permit management, in principle.
C. Materials and parts imported by enterprises in category A for processing with imported materials shall be held by customs in bond and not subject to the bank security deposit account system. The materials and parts imported by enterprises in category B for permitted processing with imported materials shall be subject to the "idling" bank security deposit account system.
D. An enterprise engaged in processing with imported materials that pays annual processing fees of over HKD 1 million may apply for direct cargo transport between Shenzhen and Hong Kong & Macao.

8.Public utilities
The government encourages social funds and overseas capital to construct public utilities by means of solely-funded enterprises, joint-venture enterprises, cooperation, and other means, and to undertake franchised operations of public utilities.