How to check a Chinese company
By the Vanguard Verify desk · Published 2026-11-02 · Updated 2026-11-02
Short answer: ask for the company's 18-character Unified Social Credit Code (USCC) and its full registered Chinese name, then look both up yourself on China's official registry, the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (gsxt.gov.cn). The name, code, legal representative, address and status there must match the business licence, the company seal and the contract. An English name alone proves nothing, because searches on the official system are run by Chinese name or USCC.
What the USCC is
Since China's 2015 registration reforms, one code replaced the old business licence number, taxpayer number and organisation code. It is defined by national standard GB 32100-2015.
| Feature | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Length | 18 characters |
| Characters | Digits and capital letters; the letters I, O, Z, S and V are never used |
| Structure | Registration department (1) + organisation type (1) + registration area code (6) + entity code (9) + check character (1) |
| Check character | The last character is calculated from the first 17 (ISO 7064 MOD 31-3), so a mistyped or invented code usually fails |
| Where it appears | Business licence, the official round red company seal (below the star), invoices and GSXT |
How to check a Chinese company: step by step
- Get the right identifiers. Ask for a scan of the business licence, the USCC and the full registered Chinese name. A trading name in English is not enough.
- Check the code format. 18 characters, none of the letters I, O, Z, S or V. A code with the wrong length or banned letters is not a valid USCC.
- Search GSXT yourself. Go to gsxt.gov.cn directly (do not use a link the counterparty sends) and search by USCC or Chinese name. The record shows the code, company type, registration authority, status, registered address, business scope, registered capital, business term, date of establishment, and people such as the legal representative, shareholders and directors.
- Match every field. Name, USCC, legal representative and address on GSXT should match the business licence, the seal impression and the signature block of the ICPO, SCO or SPA.
- Read status and age. Note the registration status, the date of establishment and the date of the latest check by the authority. A company registered weeks ago offering 50,000 MT a month deserves more questions.
- Read the business scope. The scope should cover the goods or service in the deal. A consulting firm selling urea or a software company selling cement is a mismatch to explain.
- Look for enforcement and penalties. Check whether the company appears on the list of dishonest judgment debtors or has administrative penalties. A court-listed debtor is unlikely to be able to perform a contract or pay compensation.
- Check customs registration for physical trade. Since 30 December 2022 China no longer requires a separate foreign trade operator registration; a business licence gives import and export rights. But an importer or exporter still needs a customs registration code to file customs declarations, so ask who will be named as exporter of record.
- Confirm the bank and the people. The beneficiary account name must be the same registered entity. Call the company on a number you found independently, not one from the email. See how to verify a supplier email.
- Add a global identifier if one exists. Larger firms that trade or issue securities abroad may hold an LEI. See how to check an LEI number.
Red flags
- The seller will give an English name but not the Chinese registered name or USCC.
- The USCC is not 18 characters, contains I, O, Z, S or V, or returns a different company on GSXT.
- The legal representative on GSXT is not the person signing, and there is no written authorisation under the company seal.
- Payment is requested to a personal account, an offshore company, or a company with a different name.
- Status is anything other than active, or the business scope has nothing to do with the goods.
- Registered capital or company age is out of line with the volumes offered.
- The counterparty sends you a "registry screenshot" or a link to a look-alike site instead of letting you search.
What a clean registry check does not prove
A real, active registration shows the company exists. It does not prove the company owns the goods, that the person emailing you works there, or that the bank account belongs to it. Combine the registry check with document checks such as is this company real, an inspection report and a payment structure that protects you.
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FAQ
What is a Unified Social Credit Code?
It is the 18-character ID every Chinese company receives at registration, defined by standard GB 32100-2015. It replaced the old business licence number, tax number and organisation code.
Can I search GSXT in English?
Searches on GSXT are run by the registered Chinese name or the USCC. Ask the counterparty for both; an English trading name is not enough to identify the entity.
Does a Chinese company need a licence to export?
Since 30 December 2022 China no longer requires a separate foreign trade operator registration. A business licence gives import and export rights, but customs registration is still needed to file declarations.
Does a valid GSXT record mean the deal is safe?
No. It shows the company exists and is active. It does not prove it owns the goods, that the person emailing you works there, or that the bank account is the company's.
Vanguard Verify is run by Vanguard Trade Capital Goods Wholesalers DWC-LLC, Dubai South, Licence 14282. This answer is general information, not legal or financial advice.