Following on our recent
post
explaining what it means to have your Business License revoked, we have a post today reviewing how to handle losing your Business License. This is inspired by several clients contacting our firm over the last week with just this problem. In fact, one client lost all its official documentation and seals, including their Business License, Tax Certificate, and their official Company Seal and Finance Seal. Since these documents are very important, the client was worried about whether this might incur some kind of official fee or other penalty.
Well, the good news is that there is no official penalty for losing these documents, you will simply have to go through a process to have relevant items reissued, and there will be a small official fee.
The first thing to do is publish an announcement in a newspaper within the locality where the company is operating. This serves as notice to third parties that these documents are lost and that anyone presenting the documents appearing to act on behalf of the company shall be suspect.
Next you can apply for new documentation by bringing a sample of the newspaper announcement with signature of the company’s Legal Representative. This process serves to ensure that these important documents are not inappropriately duplicated.
Of course, this is a process which your friendly neighborhood China lawyer can help with. Once you receive your newly issued Business License, remember to keep it safe!