If you’re asking what the China Companies House equivalent is, the answer is the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (GSXT)—China’s official, nationwide business registry operated under the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR). On GSXT you can view a company’s legal name, Unified Social Credit Code (USCC), status, address, legal representative, scope, and more. chinajusticeobserver.com
China Companies House equivalent: the quick answer
The China Companies House equivalent is GSXT. It’s the authoritative public record for companies registered in mainland China. You can search by the Chinese legal name or by the 18‑character USCC and then cross‑check that data with the business license and a sample VAT e‑invoice (e‑fapiao). IP Helpdesk
Meet GSXT — the official national registry (who runs it, what it shows)
GSXT is China’s national “enterprise credit information publicity” platform. It discloses core identity data (name, USCC), status (e.g., 存续/在营/开业 for active; 注销/吊销 for canceled/revoked), legal representative, registered address, business scope, establishment date, and public filings such as annual reports or administrative penalties. Independent legal resources confirm it’s developed and run by SAMR, China’s market‑regulation authority. chinajusticeobserver.com
Provincial mirrors and when to use them
If the national portal is throttled, use a provincial GSXT mirror (e.g., Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong). The dataset is the same core record, but provincial sites can be faster during busy hours. IP Helpdesk
The ID behind every record: USCC (18‑digit code)
Every record in the China Companies House equivalent is anchored by the USCC (Unified Social Credit Code)—an 18‑character identifier used across registration and tax systems. International guidance recognizes the USCC as the enterprise tax identification number (TIN) in practice. OECD
What GB 32100‑2015 says about the structure
The USCC is defined by GB 32100‑2015, a national standard that explains the code’s segments (registration authority category, entity type, regional code, subject identifier, and checksum). You don’t need to compute anything—just copy the code exactly and match it across documents. openstd.samr.gov.cn
Where to find the USCC on a license and e‑invoice
On a modern business license, USCC appears at the top with the 18 characters alongside the legal name. For enterprises, the taxpayer identification number on e‑fapiao typically equals the USCC, which is why invoices are perfect for cross‑checking the GSXT entry. IP Helpdesk
For questions around reliability and compliance use cases, see our detailed analysis on GSXT due diligence
12‑step workflow to search, verify, and archive evidence
- Collect the basics: Ask for a color scan of the business license.
- Search GSXT (national): Use the Chinese legal name or USCC. Save a PDF/screenshot. gsxt.gov.cn
- Try a provincial mirror if the national site is slow; repeat the search. IP Helpdesk
- Match the legal name character‑for‑character (watch for traditional vs simplified variants).
- Confirm status: 存续/在营/开业 = active; 注销/吊销 = canceled/revoked.
- Verify the USCC across GSXT, the license, and a sample e‑fapiao (no spaces, no case changes). OECD
- Read the business scope: Make sure your deal is covered.
- Check filings: Annual reports and any administrative penalties before onboarding.
- Capture the legal representative and watch for recent changes.
- Update ERP vendor/customer master data with the USCC and Chinese legal name.
- Re‑verify before big payments/shipments and quarterly thereafter.
- Archive the GSXT page, license, and sample e‑fapiao together in your KYC folder.
Need help running the full workflow? Try FDI China’s services for entity setup and verification.
Table: what the China Companies House equivalent displays (field‑by‑field)
| Field on GSXT | What it means | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Unified Social Credit Code (USCC) | China’s 18‑digit/letter ID (also treated as enterprise TIN) | Use as your primary key for invoices, contracts, and KYC. (OECD) |
| Enterprise name | Official legal name | Must match invoices, seals, and contracts exactly. |
| Status | 存续/在营/开业 vs 注销/吊销 | Contract only with active entities. |
| Legal representative | Authorized signatory | Check for frequent changes. |
| Registered address | Official domicile | Align with shipping and tax profiles. |
| Business scope | Activities permitted | Ensure your transaction is covered. |
| Establishment date | When the company was formed | Helps risk‑tier counterparties. |
| Annual reports & penalties | Public disclosures | Investigate gaps or sanctions. |
Reading statuses & spotting red flags
On the China Companies House equivalent, “active” statuses are 存续/在营/开业, while 注销/吊销 indicate cancellation or revocation. Red flags include mismatched names vs. invoices or seals, frequent legal‑rep changes, missing annual reports, or visible penalties—each one is reason to shorten payment terms or seek guarantees.
How Hong Kong’s Companies Registry compares (BRN / UBI)
For Hong Kong, the “equivalent of Companies House” is the Companies Registry (ICRIS e‑Services). Hong Kong adopted a Unique Business Identifier (UBI) regime where the Business Registration Number (BRN) is the key identifier; the portal provides a CR No. / BRN mapping quick search so you can cross‑reference older company numbers with the BRN. cr.gov.hk
Compliance playbook: keep name/USCC aligned across systems
- One identity, everywhere: Keep the USCC identical (no extra spaces or substitutions) on GSXT, the license, e‑fapiao, bank KYC, and your ERP. The OECD explicitly recognizes USCC as the enterprise TIN, underscoring why alignment prevents invoicing errors and tax mismatches. OECD
- Retain evidence: Store the GSXT page + license + sample invoice in a restricted KYC folder with date stamps.
- Change control: If GSXT shows a name, rep, or address change, update master data before you bill or pay.
Common mistakes (and quick fixes)
- Searching in English: Use the Chinese legal name or the USCC for reliable results. IP Helpdesk
- Trusting screenshots only: Always reconcile with the live record on the China Companies House equivalent (GSXT). gsxt.gov.cn
- Ignoring provincial mirrors: If the national portal throttles access, repeat the query on the company’s province. IP Helpdesk
- Not checking invoices: Confirm the USCC on a sample e‑fapiao matches GSXT exactly.
FAQs
Is GSXT really the China Companies House equivalent?
Yes. It’s China’s official national registry for enterprise credit information, published under SAMR. chinajusticeobserver.com
Where can I find the legal standard for the USCC?
See GB 32100‑2015 (coding rule of the USCC) on the national Standards Information platform. openstd.samr.gov.cn
Does the USCC equal the tax ID?
For enterprises, the USCC functions as the TIN in practice per international tax guidance. OECD
Can I search without Chinese input?
Ask your counterparty for the USCC or copy/paste the exact Chinese legal name; the EU IP Helpdesk provides a simple tutorial on using GSXT. IP Helpdesk
Sources & further reading
We keep these two top official sites inside the article:
- GSXT — National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (official portal): national/provincial access to company records. gsxt.gov.cn
- Standards Information Platform (openstd.samr.gov.cn) — GB 32100‑2015: the national coding rule for the USCC. openstd.samr.gov.cn
Additional authoritative references cited above:
- OECD — China TIN guidance: confirms the USCC as the enterprise TIN. OECD
- EU IP Helpdesk (European Commission): how to search a Chinese company on GSXT. IP Helpdesk
- Hong Kong Companies Registry (ICRIS): BRN / UBI quick search and CR No. / BRN mapping. cr.gov.hk
Official source: Open GSXT and try a live search: https://www.gsxt.gov.cn