Is annual audit required by law?

Yes. Under current legislation, all Foreign Invested Enterprises (“FIE”) such as Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprises (“WFOE”), Joint Ventures (“JV”), and Representative Offices (“RO”), are required to be audited on an annual basis. This statutory requirement has to be met prior to business license renewal every year.

The deadline for the filing of annual audits is the end of April of the following year. FIEs can only distribute and repatriate their profits to their home country after the annual audit and settlement of their relevant income tax liabilities.