In recent years, in order to stimulate the operation of small and medium-sized enterprises, the state has given a lot of preferential policies. Some policies are aimed at "small-scale taxpayers", while others are aimed at "small low-profit enterprises". Managers of many enterprises cannot distinguish the concepts of "small-scale taxpayers" and " small low-profit enterprises ", thus cannot determine whether they meet the criteria of preferential policies. In fact, the two are not only different, but also related, this article will clarify for you.

1.       Small scale taxpayers and general taxpayer

(1)      Criterion of classification

The full name of "small-scale taxpayer" is "small-scale taxpayer of value-added tax", corresponding to "general taxpayer". It belongs to the category of value-added tax and has nothing to do with enterprise income tax, and the criterion of classification is whether the annual taxable sales meet relevant standard. According to the latest policy, the standard for small-scale VAT taxpayers is that the VAT taxable annual sales does not exceed 5 million yuan.

(2)      Differences in tax treatment

The general taxpayer can deduct the input tax of the special VAT invoice (known as Fapiao) received when calculating the unpaid VAT. The calculation formula is as follows:

Unpaid VAT = output tax - input tax

Small scale taxpayers cannot deduct input tax when calculating paid VAT.

(3)     Transfer of small-scale taxpayers to general taxpayers

(a)      Mandatory transfer

According to the Administrative Measures for Registration of General VAT Taxpayers, VAT taxpayers with annual taxable sales exceeding 5 million yuan shall register with the competent tax authorities within 15 days after the end of the reporting period of the month (or quarter) in which the annual taxable sales amount exceeds the prescribed standard.

The term "annual taxable sales" here refers to the accumulated sales amount of VAT payable by taxpayers within the business period of no more than consecutive 12 months or four quarters, including the sales amount of tax declaration, the sales amount of inspection and supplement, and the sales amount of tax assessment and adjustment.

(b)      Voluntary transfer

Taxpayers whose annual taxable sales amount does not exceed the prescribed standard and whose accounting is sound and can provide accurate tax information may register with the competent tax authorities for general taxpayers.

The term "sound accounting" here refers to the ability to set up account books in accordance with the national unified accounting system and conduct accounting according to legal and effective vouchers.

(4)      Transfer of general taxpayers to small-scale taxpayers

General taxpayers who fulfill the following criteria can choose to be registered as small-scale taxpayers before December 31, 2020: the accumulated sales of 12 consecutive months (one month as one tax period) or four consecutive quarters (one quarter as one tax period) before the registration date did not exceed 5 million yuan.

2.       Small low-profit enterprises

Different from the standard of small-scale taxpayers, the standard of small-scale low profit enterprises is not only the annual taxable sales. Qualified small low-profit enterprises refer to those enterprises engaged in industries not restricted or prohibited by the state, and meet the following conditions at the same time:

(1)  the annual taxable income shall not exceed 3 million yuan
(2)  the number of employees shall not exceed 300
(3)  the total assets shall not exceed 50 million yuan

3.      The relationship between small low-profit enterprises, small scale taxpayers and general taxpayers

(1)	As long as small-scale taxpayers and general taxpayers meet the  above  three conditions, they can be classified as small-scale low profit enterprises, and can enjoy all preferential policies aimed at small low-profit enterprises, such as postponing the enterprise income tax of small low-profit enterprises during covid-19 pandemic.
(2)	Small scale taxpayers and general  taxpayers  who do not meet the criteria for small low-profit enterprises can enjoy the policies of VAT reduction, reduction of resource tax, urban maintenance and construction tax, real estate tax, urban land use tax, stamp tax (excluding stamp tax on securities transactions), farmland occupation tax, education surcharge and local education surcharge, etc.
(3)	Through the picture below,   we can understand the  relationship  among small-scale taxpayers, general taxpayers, small low-profit enterprises, large and medium-sized enterprises and small non low profit enterprises: