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Q: Why do Chinese ask me for my receipts?
I'm not satisfied with the answer my friends give me. They say they are collecting receipts for a friend so the friend's company can reimburse something. I think it's just stealing money from the company, but my friends say it isn't. So what exactly are they collecting the receipts for?
Its socially accepted tax evasion. Many companies will actually tax your salary less if you can produce a certain amount of fa piao every month.
Most if not all companies ask workers to pay all of their expenses up front and then give fa piao in order to get the money back.
The problem is that getting fa piaos from businesses isnt always easy so people need to collect them.
Often some middle manager will need to pay for a company dinner or something. When its time to pay the bill they are told that they cannot recieve reciepts. ( as the restaurant doesnt wanna pay taxes). So this guy has to eat the bill unless he can find some reciepts from another friends dinner or something.
Its all harmless and pretty common. If you have no use for it let them have it.
BHGAL:
I agree ... a buddy of mine works as a "tax man" and he sometimes collects our receipts to help with his expenses when "in the field" doing his job, because it is easier.
I trust him, about as "straight as an arrow", so no big deal.
RiriRiri:
Technically this is how the companies get de-taxed for their expenses. So, it's quite a reasonable practice, but largely abused as accurately described.
I never heard of "no fapiao" excuses though.
Years ago I remember the fapiao contained a scratch lottery with a chance to win like 50 or 100 bucks, to make sure as many people as possible would claim them. Don't know if they still do it. It was in Chengdu.
jetfire9000:
@ RiRi, the "no fapiao" excuses are super common! I got that mess when in Shanghai eating at a restaurant rated very highly on trip advisor.com. I get it in the city I am in every 2 or 3 days. The people that say it are ass clowns and don't deserve to do business with customers. I make it a point not to always go to a different place.
mike695ca:
@riri im not a fa piao professional or anything but i think the scratch prize ones are still around. Most companies in Guangdong have personalized fa piao printers that will give the exact amount as well as print the company name right on it.
RiriRiri:
Honestly if it happened to me I'd just tell them I'll settle the bill the day they can deliver then walk out (assuming they didn't warn me before I order, I can't be a dick if it's part of the deal).
Scandinavian:
The only thing that justifies tax evasion would be the fact that the corrupt CCP steals the money and uses it on useless stuff such as airfilters for their homes and fancy cars. In a real socialist society tax money saves lives in hospitals and educates children
yes in jinan, people ask for a receipt in hopes of winning some scratch off and forcing the restaurant to claim the receipt for taxes to the government.
when i buy trips on my prepaid bus card, they give you free card holder for the card or lamination for a receipt and sell the receipts to people who get reimbursed for bus travel.
chinese are excellent at cheating on taxes, in china town, new york city, flushing ny, many restaurants will not take any debit card or credit card, cash only and the waiters and waitresses are paid cash daily, the restaurant shows 200 customers and 10 employees when in fact is 2000 customers and 30 employees daily, very common
in little saigon shopping center in california, gold jewelry for cash 10 percent discount with handwritten receipt full price for people who use credit card, chinese make jews look honest and generous, cheating is like an osmosis genetic trait.
BHGAL:
now, I often wish I was a jew or a chinaman. I was raised to be honest and helpful and nice and and and .... the north american indian in me and look where it got them and me.
ambivalentmace:
yes i know, i spend all my money on women, booze and cigarettes, the rest of my money i just wasted, but hell im irish, let's party,
Mostly for reimbursement reasons from their company. Lots of restaurants lie that they can't do that or something and I always walk right out when I hear that. You learn to ask for a lot of stuff straight up front before accepting service int his country. Taking a cab? You gotta make sure the driver knows where the place is first for fear of him pretending to be lost. Taking that three wheeled bicycle to a spot a couple of streets away? Get the price quote up front. Eating out? Ask up front if they do Fa Piao or not, and if they don't just walk away. Don't give those liars your business. Most of them would love to stick you with the bill and make you pay without providing an official receipt.
