Railway passenger electronic invoice service will be optimized from next month to make reimbursement recording more worry-free

China News Service, Beijing, November 10 (Reporter Zhao Jianhua) The State Administration of Taxation and China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. recently jointly issued the "Announcement on Further Optimizing Comprehensive Digital Electronic Invoices in the Field of Railway Passenger Transport", which will further optimize the issuance of electronic invoices for railway passenger transport starting from December 1, 2026. On the basis that passengers themselves can issue electronic invoices (railway electronic tickets), there is a new method for ticket purchasers and agents who handle ticket purchase, refund and change services on behalf of passengers to issue electronic invoices (railway electronic tickets) on behalf of passengers.

While ensuring that passengers can issue tickets through the railway 12306 online line, the announcement has added a new offline channel for applying for "scan-code invoices". Passengers can apply for "scan-code invoices" at the station ticket window or automatic ticket vending machine with their valid identity documents to issue electronic invoices (railway electronic tickets).

The announcement clarifies that ticket purchasers who handle ticket purchase, refund, and ticket changes on behalf of passengers through Railway 12306 can directly issue electronic invoices (railway electronic tickets) through Railway 12306 at the end of the trip or after paying the refund or change fees; ticket purchasers can use Railway 12306 to handle ticket purchases, refunds, and ticket changes on behalf of passengers. If you purchase a ticket, you can apply for a "code-scanning invoice" at the station ticket window on the spot with the valid ID of the ticket purchaser or passenger to issue an invoice; if you handle ticket refund or change on behalf of a passenger, you must apply for a "scan-code invoicing" at the station ticket window or automatic ticket vending machine with the passenger's valid ID on the spot to issue an invoice.

The announcement stipulates that when China State Railway Group Co., Ltd.'s transportation companies, non-holding joint ventures, and local railway companies handle domestic passenger transportation ticket sales, refunds, and changes through the railway ticket sales and reservation system, they should truthfully issue and deliver electronic invoices (railway electronic tickets) based on the buyer's name, unified social credit code, and itinerary information provided by passengers, ticket buyers, and agents. Any third-party Internet platform and individual involved in the railway ticket sales business shall not provide the issuance, delivery, downloading and other services of electronic invoices (railway electronic tickets).

In order to further facilitate the reimbursement of passengers, it is announced that a new white background style will be added to the original blue background style of railway electronic tickets. The face elements of the two types of styles remain unchanged, and passengers can choose according to their needs.