What you receive when you bring a client to Coderbunker
A client pays Coderbunker, usually by international transfer. We convert to RMB, pay the China VAT, take our fee, and pay you the rest every month, through your company or as a freelancer.
How the money flows
Client paysSWIFT transfer, all bank fees paid by the client (OUR)
Conversionto RMB at the bank rate on the day the funds arrive
VAT and fee÷ 1.01 for China VAT, then − 10% Coderbunker fee
Payout on the 7thhours × rate, to you or your company
net = amount × exchange rate × (1 − 1% exchange cost) ÷ 1.01 × 0.90 RMB payment in China: net = amount ÷ 1.06 × 0.90
Simulator
Exchange rate to RMB
Amount invoiced
In RMB at the reference rate
Exchange cost
China VAT
Coderbunker fee10%, minimum ¥1,000 per payment
Net available for you
net per day, invoiceper day
Bank fees: paid by the client
An international transfer goes through the client's bank, often an intermediary bank, then ours. Each transfer costs up to about US$50 in bank fees, whatever the amount. On a large payment that is a small share; on a small one it can exceed 1%.
Recommendation
The client selects the OUR charge option on the transfer: they pay all fees upfront and the invoiced amount arrives in full. With SHA, often the default, intermediary and receiving fees are deducted on arrival and reduce your net.
State it in the contract and on every invoice: "All bank charges borne by the payer (OUR)."
Group payments into one monthly prepayment rather than several small transfers.
Edge case: a client pays in RMB
A client in China can pay our Chinese company directly in RMB. There is no international transfer, so no bank fees and no exchange cost. In return the client receives a VAT fapiao at 6%, which a general taxpayer can deduct. We remove that VAT (÷ 1.06) before our 10% fee, so the net is about 85% of what the client pays. Select RMB in the simulator to see the figures.
How you are paid
On the 7th of each month, for the previous month: timesheet hours × your rate, taken from the net available.
Option A · company
Through your company
For everyone, including without permanent residence.
We pay the amount to your company, with nothing withheld
Within a week your company sends us a fapiao (Chinese company) or an invoice (foreign company) for the same amount
Your company then pays its own costs: fapiao tax (usually 1%), salary, social contributions, taxes. Check with your accountant
Amount for the month
Withheld by Coderbunker
¥0
Paid to your company
Option B · freelancer
As an individual
Only for a Chinese citizen or a holder of the Chinese permanent residence card.
Taxable amount = 80% of the payment (payment − ¥800 below ¥4,000)
Tax withheld at source each month: 20%, 30% or 40% depending on that month's amount
After year end you file the annual reconciliation with a ¥60,000 deduction; any tax overpaid is refunded
If your annual income stays within ¥120,000, or the extra tax due is ¥400 or less, you do not have to pay the difference. This exemption is renewed periodically, currently through 2027
Withholding calendar
Payout
Paid
Taxable
Tax rate
Withheld
Received
Annual filing
Tax year
Income
Withheld
Actual tax
Effective rate
Refund
Filing window
The rate applies to the taxable amount, which is 80% of each payment, so a 20% bracket withholds 16% of the payment (see the Taxable column). Duration and marginal rate are linked: a longer spread lowers each month's amount and so its bracket; picking a rate sets the shortest spread that reaches it.
Individual Income Tax Law of the PRC (2018 amendment): Art. 6, labour income counted at 80% and the ¥60,000 annual deduction; Art. 3, annual rates 3% to 45%; Art. 11, annual reconciliation from 1 March to 30 June of the following year.
MOF & SAT Announcement 2023 No. 32: no supplementary tax for annual income within ¥120,000 or extra tax of ¥400 or less, for income from 2024 to 2027. Renewed from earlier announcements.
Without Chinese permanent residence, use option A.
