Reconciling Platform Data with Your Tax Filings
Author: Junanda ConsultingReviewed by: Junanda Service Team2026-09-19
For many businesses the problem is not that they failed to file, but that the figures they filed do not agree with the data on their platforms. The revenue shown on a platform settlement statement, the amount that actually reaches the bank account, the invoices issued and the sales figure on the tax return often tell four different stories. When questions are raised, the business itself cannot explain where the differences come from. This article sets out a repeatable reconciliation method built on three ideas: comparing four data streams, attributing every difference to a cause, and keeping a documented ledger.
The four-stream comparison method
Put all four data sources on a single worksheet and compare them over the same period.
| Data source |
Where to obtain it |
Key fields |
| Platform settlement statement |
Orders and settlement reports in the platform back office |
Order value, commission, refunds, other deductions, net settlement |
| Bank receipts |
Transaction records of the corporate or collection account |
Amount received, value date, payer, currency |
| Invoices |
Invoicing system and input invoices |
Invoice amount, tax amount, invoice date, purchaser |
| Tax return |
Filing records in the electronic tax bureau |
Sales amount, exempt sales, input tax, tax payable |
The comparison only works on a like-for-like basis: the time basis (order date or settlement date), the amount basis (gross including commission, or net) and the currency basis (original currency or RMB). Where the bases differ, the difference is artificial, so align the bases first and discuss the gap afterwards.
Why differences arise, and how to explain them
When a difference appears, work through the following list item by item:
- Refunds and returns. The order stands, but it is subsequently refunded, so the net settlement is smaller than the order value.
- Platform commission and promotion fees. The platform deducts these at settlement, so the amount received is smaller than the sales figure.
- Exchange gains and losses. Foreign-currency settlement and the date of conversion differ, producing a rate difference.
- Cut-off. An order falls at the end of one month while payment or settlement falls in the next, creating a timing difference.
- Tax withheld and remitted by the platform. Some platforms withhold and remit taxes, so the business must restore the gross basis when filing.
- Logistics and warehousing costs. Freight advanced on behalf of customers and overseas warehouse costs become mixed up with revenue.
- Timing of withdrawals. A balance is left on the platform, so the books show revenue while the bank shows no receipt.
- Multiple shops and multiple entities. Where one controlling person operates several entities, the data must be collected separately for each.
Every difference should be written up as an amount, a cause and a treatment, rather than simply left on a suspense account.
Handling differences should not stop at explaining them one by one. Once the monthly reconciliation is complete, summarise the causes into a difference composition table, breaking the total for the period into refunds, commission, exchange differences and cut-off items, and showing which block is largest and whether it persists. If one category is significant for several consecutive months, the process itself is at fault: the answer lies in revising contract terms, the settlement cycle or the accounting treatment, not in explaining the same items by hand every month.
The same discipline applies to explanations given to the tax authority or an auditor, which should cover:
- The total difference and its composition, with amounts listed by cause.
- The nature of the difference — whether it is a timing difference or a permanent one.
- The supporting evidence, identifying which settlement statement, which bank entry and which invoice is involved.
- The proposed adjustment — correction in the current period, or an amended filing for the period concerned.
- The follow-up mechanism — how the same kind of difference will be prevented from recurring.
The explanation should be concise, evidence-based and verifiable, avoiding long narrative passages that carry no concrete figures.
Coordination, frequency and record-keeping
Reconciliation is not a task for finance alone. A workable division of labour looks like this:
- The operations team exports the order and settlement data from the platform back office;
- the cashier or treasury role provides bank statements and screenshots of platform account balances;
- the finance team aligns the bases, compares the differences and prepares the ledger;
- the tax contact reconciles the ledger against the filed return;
- management spot-checks the accuracy of the ledger and the reasonableness of the explanations from time to time.
Once the data sources and the responsible people are fixed, reconciliation becomes sustainable. Otherwise the chain breaks when staff change and the historical data can no longer be traced.
On frequency and records:
- Frequency. Monthly reconciliation is recommended, completed as soon as possible after month-end; businesses with high volumes or many platforms may run a preliminary check each week.
- Records. Platform settlement statements, bank statements, invoices and screenshots or export files of returns should be filed month by month so that they remain traceable.
- Retention period. Accounting vouchers, ledgers, statements and similar records are kept for the period set out in the latest official rules.
- Responsibility. Nominate a preparer and a reviewer separately, so that the same person does not prepare and approve the same work.
Revenue recognition for cross-border e-commerce
In cross-border e-commerce, the familiar distinction in revenue recognition is between two approaches:
- The gross method, under which revenue is recognised on the total amount collected from the customer, with platform commission and promotion fees presented as expenses.
- The net method, under which revenue is recognised on the net amount after deducting platform fees.
Which method applies depends on whether the business acts as principal or agent — whether it bears inventory risk, sets the price and is responsible for product quality.
It is important to note that the accounting basis and the tax filing basis may differ. Accounting treatment is determined under the applicable accounting standards, while for tax purposes the sales amount is generally reported on a gross basis. In practice, businesses commonly report the sales amount on the tax basis while reflecting the treatment of platform fees in the accounts. Specific requirements are subject to the Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises and the position of the competent tax authority.
A reusable monthly reconciliation ledger
Build the monthly reconciliation ledger on the structure below, which can be copied directly into spreadsheet software:
| Column |
What to enter |
| Month |
The month to which it relates, for example 2026-01 |
| Shop/platform |
Shop name or platform name |
| Operating entity |
The company to which it relates |
| Currency |
The original currency |
| Platform order value (original currency) |
Total order value reported by the platform |
| Platform refunds |
Refunds and returns in the month |
| Platform commission and promotion fees |
Fees deducted by the platform |
| Other platform charges |
Logistics, warehousing, penalties and similar |
| Platform net settlement (original currency) |
Order value less refunds less deductions |
| Exchange rate |
The book rate or the settlement rate |
| Net settlement converted into RMB |
Net settlement multiplied by the rate |
| Amount actually received in the bank |
Amount received in the corporate account in the month |
| Undrawn balance |
Platform account balance not withdrawn at period end |
| Amount invoiced |
Value of invoices issued in the month |
| Sales reported |
Amount entered on the tax return |
| Tax payable reported |
Tax payable reported for the period |
| Difference |
Reported sales less converted sales |
| Difference category |
Refund / commission / exchange / cut-off / other |
| Explanation |
One sentence describing what makes up the difference |
| Treatment |
Adjusted / to be adjusted next month / no adjustment required |
| Prepared by |
The person who carried out the work |
| Reviewed by |
The person who reviewed it |
| Date of review |
Date on which the reconciliation was completed |
The essential discipline of the ledger is that every entry in the difference column must carry a clear explanation; items marked "to be investigated" or "pending" must not be left outstanding for months on end.
Common Pitfalls
This article is general business information prepared by Junanda Consulting. Specific policy positions, tax rates, deadlines and procedural requirements are subject to the latest official versions issued by the competent authorities. To understand how these requirements apply to your business, please contact Junanda Consulting for further information and support.