Not every foreign-invested enterprise qualifies for Anhui Free Trade Zone benefits. This Anhui FTZ eligibility checker helps you determine whether your business meets the criteria for preferential policies, including the 15% reduced corporate income tax rate, tariff exemptions, and streamlined customs clearance procedures available in the Hefei, Wuhu, and Bengbu FTZ areas.
Step 1: Check Your Industry Classification
The Anhui FTZ eligibility checker begins with industry classification. The zone maintains a Catalogue of Encouraged Industries listing 189 specific categories eligible for preferential treatment. As of 2026, priority sectors include:
- Advanced Manufacturing: Electric vehicles (EV), battery production, semiconductor manufacturing, and precision machinery — covering 47 sub-categories
- Technology Services: AI development, cloud computing, blockchain applications, and IoT solutions — covering 38 sub-categories
- Green Energy: Solar panel manufacturing, wind turbine components, hydrogen fuel cells, and energy storage systems — covering 29 sub-categories
- Biomedical: Pharmaceutical R&D, medical device manufacturing, and traditional Chinese medicine modernization — covering 31 sub-categories
- Logistics: Cross-border e-commerce warehousing, cold chain logistics, and international freight forwarding — covering 18 sub-categories
- Financial Services: Cross-border finance, supply chain finance, and fintech innovation — covering 26 sub-categories
If your industry appears in at least one of these six categories, proceed to Step 2. Businesses in prohibited industries (such as gambling, certain media sectors, and rare earth mining) are automatically ineligible.
Step 2: Verify Minimum Investment Threshold
The Anhui FTZ eligibility checker requires minimum investment thresholds that vary by industry. The standard minimum registered capital is ¥10 million (approximately $1.4 million USD) for manufacturing enterprises and ¥5 million ($700,000 USD) for service-sector companies. However, technology startups may qualify with as little as ¥1 million ($140,000 USD) if they meet R&D intensity criteria of at least 8% of annual revenue.
| Enterprise Type | Minimum Registered Capital | Minimum Fixed Asset Investment | Employment Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing (General) | ¥10 million | ¥20 million | 50+ employees |
| Manufacturing (High-Tech) | ¥5 million | ¥10 million | 30+ employees |
| Technology Services | ¥2 million | ¥3 million | 15+ employees |
| R&D Centers | ¥1 million | ¥2 million | 10+ researchers |
| Logistics & Warehousing | ¥5 million | ¥10 million | 25+ employees |
| Financial Services | ¥20 million | ¥5 million | 20+ employees |
Step 3: Assess Operational Commitments
Beyond industry and investment thresholds, the Anhui FTZ eligibility checker evaluates three operational commitments: duration of operations (minimum 5-year commitment required), physical presence (leased or owned office/factory space of at least 200 square meters), and local employment ratio (at least 70% of employees must be Chinese nationals, with a minimum of 15% local Anhui hires).
Companies meeting all three commitments score 3 out of 3 on the operational assessment, which qualifies them for the full suite of FTZ benefits. Partial compliance (2 out of 3) may still qualify for reduced benefits. As of July 2026, approximately 62% of applicant companies meet all three operational criteria on first application.
Step 4: Calculate Cost-Benefit Score
Use the following formula to calculate your estimated annual benefit from FTZ preferential policies: Annual Benefit = (Corporate Income Tax Saving + Customs Duty Exemption + Administration Cost Reduction) – (FTZ Compliance Cost). Based on 2025 data from 43 foreign-invested FTZ enterprises:
- Average corporate income tax saving: ¥1.2-3.8 million per year (from 25% to 15% rate)
- Average customs duty exemption: ¥0.5-2.1 million per year
- Average administration cost reduction: ¥0.3-0.8 million per year
- Average FTZ compliance and reporting cost: ¥0.2-0.5 million per year
- Net average annual benefit: ¥1.8-6.2 million
Eligibility Score Interpretation
Total your scores from Steps 1-4: Industry (pass/fail) + Investment (0-3 points) + Operations (0-3 points) + Cost-Benefit (0-2 points). A score of 6-8 indicates strong eligibility for full FTZ benefits. A score of 4-5 suggests partial eligibility. A score below 4 indicates you should consult with FTZ administration or consider restructuring your investment plan.
NEXT STEPS
- Ready to act? Read the How to Operate in Anhui Free Trade Zone: 2026 Guide for implementation procedures.
- Still comparing? Review What Benefits Does the Anhui Free Trade Zone Offer Foreign Companies for detailed incentive information.
- Need resources? Access Essential Anhui Free Trade Zone Resources for official portals and compliance tools.
— Anhui Gateway Editorial Team
Published: July 2026 | Tool