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[16/8IF]

Whenever I update my passport details at banks in China, the Form requires me to declare my "tax residency". After I indicate "Singapore", I also need to indicate my Singapore "Tax Identification No." (I think is called 税务识别码 or 税务代码 in Chinese). I'll input my NRIC, which is the "Tax Reference No" per IRAS Notice of Assessment.

If i may asked when did you start having to provide this tax number and which bank ?
I have updated my passport many time in the past ( when passport was for 5 years) & never had to provide this .

Even this year Oct when i did it , out of the 4 banks only CBC asked for it , the rest didn't even mentioned them.

Ps normally the forms are filled in by the teller and I just signed the printed copy .

 

[turtle2018]

If i may asked when did you start having to provide this tax number and which bank ?
I have updated my passport many time in the past ( when passport was for 5 years) & never had to provide this .

I did not step into China from late 2019 to Nov 2023, due to Covid. During this period,
(a) my BOC-Shanghai & ICBC-Quanzhou bank a/c were frozen (probably due to expiry of passport validity date)
(b) my internet banking access to above banks were also frozen (probably due to same reason)
(c) my internet banking tokens (U 盾) also ran out of battery & cannot be recharged

Nov 2023:
Tried to update my passport details, plus re-activate my frozen bank a/c & internet banking access & replaced the tokens when I was in Beijing/ Tianjin. Went to BOC-Beijing 朝阳门支行 & ICBC-Tianjin (can't remember which branch, but should be a 支行 around 解放路). I filled up many Forms, & I recalled the TIN (Tax Identification No.) was in one of the Forms. In the end, I only managed to complete (a) & (b) for both bank ac. For (c), the applications were un-successful. I was told that it's better to apply at the 开户行 (i.e. Shanghai & Quanzhou).

May 2024:
Applied successfully for BOC Banking App (手机银行) at BOC-Xiamen. I was told that with this application, my daily ATM transaction limit would be reduced to RMB1,000. I could not recall whether TIN was asked during the application.

Sep 2024:
Renewed my passport in Aug 2024, so updated my passport particulars at both banks in Quanzhou during my China trip in Sep 2024. I could not recall whether TIN was asked during the update.

After every update/ application, the banks do provide the carbon hardcopies of the system-printed Forms, indicating the updates/ applications made. However, I left these Forms in China, so can't check them now.

But my point is: it's perfectly normal for banks to require your Tax Residency info (i.e. which country, & the TIN) in their system. Under what circumstances would the bank trigger to ask you for an update - I don't know. But I recall during Covid, whenever I logged into internet banking (before it was frozen), I was prompted the message to update my Tax Residency.

If they do not ask, it could be because their system assumes that the info is still valid.
But if they ever ask, then the correct answer should be your NRIC No (which is the IRAS Tax Ref No) if you are Singaporean.

 

[16/8IF]

I did not step into China from late 2019 to Nov 2023, due to Covid. During this period,
(a) my BOC-Shanghai & ICBC-Quanzhou bank a/c were frozen (probably due to expiry of passport validity date)
(b) my internet banking access to above banks were also frozen (probably due to same reason)
(c) my internet banking tokens (U 盾) also ran out of battery & cannot be recharged

Nov 2023:
Tried to update my passport details, plus re-activate my frozen bank a/c & internet banking access & replaced the tokens when I was in Beijing/ Tianjin. Went to BOC-Beijing 朝阳门支行 & ICBC-Tianjin (can't remember which branch, but should be a 支行 around 解放路). I filled up many Forms, & I recalled the TIN (Tax Identification No.) was in one of the Forms. In the end, I only managed to complete (a) & (b) for both bank ac. For (c), the applications were un-successful. I was told that it's better to apply at the 开户行 (i.e. Shanghai & Quanzhou).

May 2024:
Applied successfully for BOC Banking App (手机银行) at BOC-Xiamen. I was told that with this application, my daily ATM transaction limit would be reduced to RMB1,000. I could not recall whether TIN was asked during the application.

Sep 2024:
Renewed my passport in Aug 2024, so updated my passport particulars at both banks in Quanzhou during my China trip in Sep 2024. I could not recall whether TIN was asked during the update.

After every update/ application, the banks do provide the carbon hardcopies of the system-printed Forms, indicating the updates/ applications made. However, I left these Forms in China, so can't check them now.

But my point is: it's perfectly normal for banks to require your Tax Residency info (i.e. which country, & the TIN) in their system. Under what circumstances would the bank trigger to ask you for an update - I don't know. But I recall during Covid, whenever I logged into internet banking (before it was frozen), I was prompted the message to update my Tax Residency.

If they do not ask, it could be because their system assumes that the info is still valid.
But if they ever ask, then the correct answer should be your NRIC No (which is the IRAS Tax Ref No) if you are Singaporean.

Thanks for your detailed information .

Seems you had to go thru such a detailed process to update your new passport.

Since having my China bank accounts as early as 2004 NEVER was asked to provide my Singapore Address or Tax number .

Only in 2024 October I was asked for Singapore Address and Tax number by CBC.


The rest of the 3 banks , did not even asked anything , just made a copy of my new passport .

The fastest processing time was Bk Com
about 10 mins while the rest took 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours to do it ( not counting the waiting time in the queue.).

The rest seems to have a complicated system to input and usually the branch manager of the three banks have to intervene to assist the teller .

Ps I also had banking apps for all my four banks and process was not difficult and all was setup for me by each of the banks' floor manager on the spot .

I used to have a BOC internet banking with the token which i misplaced so i just didn't try to reactivate it since it is easy with the banking apps.

 

[jase07]

My situation is kinda messed up, i went BOC to update my passport details during my Nov 2024 trip. They managed to un freeze my account but the whole episode took a few days and i had to go back 2 times. I told them i want to apply for mobile banking via the app and they did the application for me. I manage to register for an account for the app but somehow my mobile account is not linked to my card account....the guangzhou branch gave me some cock excuse and told me to go back to the (开户行 )branch........I can tell they were pretty fed up with the un freezing card process already and don't really want to deal with me anymore.

 

[16/8IF]

My situation is kinda messed up, i went BOC to update my passport details during my Nov 2024 trip. They managed to un freeze my account but the whole episode took a few days and i had to go back 2 times. I told them i want to apply for mobile banking via the app and they did the application for me. I manage to register for an account for the app but somehow my mobile account is not linked to my card account....the guangzhou branch gave me some cock excuse and told me to go back to the (开户行 )branch........I can tell they were pretty fed up with the un freezing card process already and don't really want to deal with me anymore.

Hmm , actually during covid I also didn't fly back , basically my acts were inactive from 2019-2023 .

Went back in Oct 2023 to deposit some RMb and also setup the phone banking apps .

I got the banking hall manager to setup for me and it was very easy less than 20 mins everything was done . BOC was one of them .

Funny they have to take a few days to do it especially in Guangzhou .

I am in a third tier city and they did it on the spot .

 

[jase07]

Hmm , actually during covid I also didn't fly back , basically my acts were inactive from 2019-2023 .

Went back in Oct 2023 to deposit some RMb and also setup the phone banking apps .

I got the banking hall manager to setup for me and it was very easy less than 20 mins everything was done . BOC was one of them .

Funny they have to take a few days to do it especially in Guangzhou .

I am in a third tier city and they did it on the spot .

yeah, first day i went, they say they need to apply to higher level to unfreeze my account, they ask me to wait for their call but 3 working days went past and still no call, i decide to visit the branch again and magically they say it was approved already.
So now i am going to wait for my passport renewal for the full 10 years and go back to SZ (my 开户行) and settle everything again.

 

[16/8IF]

yeah, first day i went, they say they need to apply to higher level to unfreeze my account, they ask me to wait for their call but 3 working days went past and still no call, i decide to visit the branch again and magically they say it was approved already.
So now i am going to wait for my passport renewal for the full 10 years and go back to SZ (my 开户行) and settle everything again.

Updating of passport with all the banks usually takes about 1 to 1 1/2 hours for them to input into the system , don't know why seems very complicated or the teller is not familiar .

The best is Bank Of Communication China around 10-20 mins regardless of which teller/staff .

For Bank of China if you get the experience staff than 30 mins to 1 hour.
Once i got one UK grads that just returned 6 months ago in BOC and that took more than 2 hours not including the waiting time in the queue .

Normally I am given the pirority counter which is for Uniform personnels, Retired/elderly customers plus foreigners just fyi .

Ps i updated my 10 years new passport on Oct 2024 , currently I am still in China , trying to stay longer this round , most likely closer to 60 days.

 

[turtle2018]

I told them i want to apply for mobile banking via the app and they did the application for me. I manage to register for an account for the app but somehow my mobile account is not linked to my card account....the guangzhou branch gave me some cock excuse and told me to go back to the (开户行 )branch.......

When I updated my BOC (开户行 at Shanghai) at BOC-Quanzhou on a Sat or Sun in Sep 2024, I also needed to wait for 1 to 2 days (as BOC-QZ needs to get clearance from BOC-SHA on the next working day). But I was fortunate that the BOC manager at BOC-Quanzhou did call me & I returned to complete the process before I returned to Singapore. Lesson: better do it on a weekday morning, so that the communication between the BOC branches can be done within the same day.

If you do not need to use the Banking App to transfer Rmb to other bank ac in China, & only need to review the transaction history of your bank ac, then there is an easier way - refer to Post 1251 of this thread. All you need is Wechat AC, the Debit Card from your BOC-SZ & the PIN to your Debit Card.

.

 

[bertrande]

Right, haven't had a great experience with BOC previously.
ICBC was fine for me. Shall check out BCC & CBC.

Sorry, pardon my ignorance but Cat 1 refers to?

I have heard good things about BCC although I don’t have an account with them. Just to note that CCB (I assume it’s China Construction Bank) seems to have tightened their rules regarding new account opening by foreigners so take note you may be rejected. You may wish to check out CMB - they’ve been very friendly. I, my husband and a few friends all managed to open accounts with both them.

Cat 1 cards are limited by what the banks impose; Cat 2 cards have state imposed limits (although the banks will often have a sub limit within that limit!).. My ABC card is a Cat 2 card. My daily transaction limit is 5k (as opposed to state limit of 20k) and my monthly limit is a measly 20k. Cat 2 accounts are also RMB only accounts whereas you can have a forex account under Cat 1. A person can only have 1 Cat 1 account per bank but can have up to 3 (I think) Cat 2 accounts. My CMB and ICBC cards are both Cat 1; both currently have a bank-imposed daily transfer limit of 10k (CMB started at 5K and has slowly adjusted upwards - currently I can apply for up to 12.5k a day but I don’t see a need to).

As for TIN, I had to fill in for all three banks in the original account opening form - wrote my NRIC number. Good luck next time!

 

[bertrande]

Updating of passport with all the banks usually takes about 1 to 1 1/2 hours for them to input into the system , don't know why seems very complicated or the teller is not familiar .

Oh no, i will have to do it with three banks and a telco in March 2025! I just updated my mother’s passport this week at her telco and it took over an hour; they actually told her she might have to return to Shanghai to do it but thankfully it went through. Hope I don’t have to spend 10 hours at banks/telco when it is my turn!

 

[jase07]

Oh no, i will have to do it with three banks and a telco in March 2025! I just updated my mother’s passport this week at her telco and it took over an hour; they actually told her she might have to return to Shanghai to do it but thankfully it went through. Hope I don’t have to spend 10 hours at banks/telco when it is my turn!

I didn't manage to do my telco man. I went chengdu in 2018 and went 联通to update my passport details, they say cannot. Gotta go back to Shanghai to do it. Then the whole covid thing happened and i didn't go back. So before my Nov 2024 i went to talk to the online CS and asked them about the update passport details procedure. They cannot do it online for me but told me that i can do it at any 联通营业厅, they said ANY. So i went GZ and guess what....told me cannot, ask me go Shanghai again...... damn sian.

 

[16/8IF]

Oh no, i will have to do it with three banks and a telco in March 2025! I just updated my mother’s passport this week at her telco and it took over an hour; they actually told her she might have to return to Shanghai to do it but thankfully it went through. Hope I don’t have to spend 10 hours at banks/telco when it is my turn!

from what i can see with all the replies , seems big cities takes a long time to process .

I am in a third tier city with a population of only 2.5 million and I had most of my banking accts since 2004 .

Definitely I am happy that the current passport is 10 years .

With the previous 5 years I basically have to do the run every 4 years with 4 banks and usually that takes about the whole day .

All the best for your March 2025.

 

[bertrande]

I didn't manage to do my telco man. I went chengdu in 2018 and went 联通to update my passport details, they say cannot. Gotta go back to Shanghai to do it. Then the whole covid thing happened and i didn't go back. So before my Nov 2024 i went to talk to the online CS and asked them about the update passport details procedure. They cannot do it online for me but told me that i can do it at any 联通营业厅, they said ANY. So i went GZ and guess what....told me cannot, ask me go Shanghai again...... damn sian.

Hey same cities! My mum obtained her number from Shanghai Unicom as well and we were in Chengdu this week! Thankfully they managed to update after an hour. CSO had to try thrice AND change computer. But i had called Unicom’s hotline prior to going to the 营业厅 and they had said it was doable so…

 

[froztheart]

Hey same cities! My mum obtained her number from Shanghai Unicom as well and we were in Chengdu this week! Thankfully they managed to update after an hour. CSO had to try thrice AND change computer. But i had called Unicom’s hotline prior to going to the 营业厅 and they had said it was doable so…

That's what I was told that updating is not an issue and any branch works.

 

[jase07]

Hey same cities! My mum obtained her number from Shanghai Unicom as well and we were in Chengdu this week! Thankfully they managed to update after an hour. CSO had to try thrice AND change computer. But i had called Unicom’s hotline prior to going to the 营业厅 and they had said it was doable so…

guess i'm just the unlucky one. Their whole system is just so messed up, different province is like staying in different country like that.

 

[iceoxfch]

Oh, Yesterday, I used BOC Singapore Unionpay Card paid TaoBao purchase.

I see. Is your card credit or debit?

 

[froztheart]

guess i'm just the unlucky one. Their whole system is just so messed up, different province is like staying in different country like that.

Gotta get used to how China operates, if they are able to centralise systems that will be a lot better, though even with SG, our systems are only starting to be centralised slowly.
The good thing with this is that, discretion is up to branch manager, which might be in one's favour subjectively.

 

[HoGnix]

I see. Is your card credit or debit?

Credit Card

 

[iceoxfch]

Credit Card

Thanks! BOC advised only their credit cards can be linked. Looks like that's true!

 

[HoGnix]

Thanks! BOC advised only their credit cards can be linked. Looks like that's true!

For info, I tested and linked both my BOC Unionpay Credit Card and Debit Card to WeChat pay, Both are successfully, in WeChat linked Credit Card information, both shows ”Credit Card”. So I guess there in no benefit for using Debit Card in this case, So I dropped the Debit Card.