The short answer: Registered capital is the amount shareholders have promised to put into a Chinese company; paid-in capital is the part they have actually paid. Neither one proves a real factory, so read both as one clue and confirm production on site.
Verified as of October 29, 2026 against State Council Order No. 784 of 2024, as republished on the website of China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment. We did not open the national registry itself for this article.
This guide explains what two lines of a Chinese company record mean, what the 2024 rules changed and what to ask a supplier. It is based on the rules cited and on general good practice, not on any first-hand experience of a particular supplier. It helps you read one line of a record; it does not replace a look at the factory itself.
What Are Registered Capital and Paid-In Capital?
Registered capital (注册资本) is the amount the shareholders have subscribed, meaning committed, to contribute to the company. Paid-in capital (实缴资本) is the part they have actually contributed. The two can differ, because the contribution period is recorded in the company's articles.
Order No. 784 treats them as separate items. It requires a company that changes its subscribed or paid-in amounts, the way of contributing or the contribution period to publish the change in the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System within 20 working days (Article 4). So both figures and the period are meant to be public (Order 784).
What Did China's 2024 Rules Change?
- A five-year limit, from mid-2027. For companies registered on or before June 30, 2024, a limited liability company whose remaining contribution period would run more than five years from July 1, 2027 must shorten it to five years or less by June 30, 2027 and record it in its articles. Promoters of a joint-stock company must pay in full by the same date (Article 2).
- A check on abnormal figures. Where the contribution period or the registered capital is clearly abnormal, the registration authority may assess it against the company's business scope, operations and the shareholders' ability to pay, and may require an adjustment if it finds the figures contrary to authenticity and reasonableness (Article 3).
- A public mark. A company that does not adjust is first ordered to correct it; if it still does not, the authority adds a special mark in the system for the public to see (Article 6).
So a figure that looked normal in 2023 can change before mid-2027. Check the date of any record or screenshot a supplier sends you.
What Can a Buyer Read From the Numbers?
| Line | What it can tell you | What it cannot tell you |
|---|---|---|
| Registered (subscribed) capital | What the shareholders committed to contribute | Cash in the bank or the size of the plant |
| Paid-in capital | How much has been contributed, as published | Money available for your order |
| Contribution period | When the rest is due; a clearly abnormal period is what Article 3 allows an authority to question | Whether the shareholders will pay on time |
| Date of establishment | How long the company has been registered | How long it has made your product |
| Special mark or abnormal status | The authority has flagged the company (Articles 6 and 7) | The reason, unless the record says so |
Where Do You Look It Up?
Our China supplier verification checklist names the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (gsxt.gov.cn) as the registry, explains that it is in Chinese and asks for a mainland mobile number to log in, and shows how to compare the record with the supplier's license copy. Search by the full Chinese name or the 18-character Unified Social Credit Code, then compare name, address, registered capital, date of establishment and business scope. A Chinese-speaking colleague, an agent or an inspection company can run the lookup for you.
What Should You Ask the Supplier?
This section is general advice, not a rule from the Order.
- The license copy and the full Chinese name, the same as on the quote, the proforma invoice and the bank account (see the documents to request from a Chinese manufacturer).
- The registry record's date. Ask for the page that shows both capital figures and the status, and check it against a fresh lookup.
- How the order is financed. If your order is large next to the paid-in figure, ask how the supplier will pay for materials before you wire a deposit (see what to check before paying a deposit).
- Proof of production, such as the plant address, a video of the line and the machines that make your product (see telling a real factory from a trading company).
What Do the Numbers Not Tell You?
They do not show whether your product is made on site, whether the quality will match the sample or whether the supplier will return a deposit. A company can have a small registered capital and make the product, or a large one and only trade it, so the figure alone does not separate the two. Treat a mismatch as a reason to ask questions, not as proof of anything.
Where Does a Third-Party Check Help?
It compares the company record with what is physically there: whether the legal entity operates the address, whether the machines match the product and whether the person you deal with works for that company. For ongoing orders, see our factory supervision service; if you buy parts, our auto parts sourcing page lists what we check for that category. An inspection before the balance is paid (see what a pre-shipment inspection costs) compares the goods with the order.
What Should You Do Next?
- Ask for the license copy and the full Chinese company name.
- Run the registry lookup or ask someone who reads Chinese to run it, and note the date.
- Compare registered capital, paid-in capital, status and date of establishment with the size of your order.
- Ask for proof of production at the address on the record.
- Check the rest of the file before paying: see the supplier verification checklist and the manufacturer due diligence checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is registered capital in China?
It is the amount a company's shareholders have subscribed, meaning committed, to contribute. It is recorded in the company's registration and articles. It is a commitment, not cash held by the company.
Is paid-in capital the same as cash in the bank?
No. Paid-in capital is the part of the subscribed amount that shareholders have contributed. It does not show what money the company holds today or whether it can fund your order.
Does a high registered capital mean the supplier is safe?
No. The figure is a commitment and says nothing about whether the company makes your product or will deliver on time. Read it with the status, the contribution period and proof of production.
What did the 2024 rules require?
Under State Council Order No. 784, many limited liability companies registered on or before June 30, 2024 must shorten a contribution period that would exceed five years from July 1, 2027 to five years or less by June 30, 2027.
Where can I see a Chinese company's registered capital?
In the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (gsxt.gov.cn), which is in Chinese and asks for a mainland mobile number to log in. An agent or inspection company can run the search for you.
Summary and Next Step
Registered capital is a commitment, paid-in capital is what has been contributed, and neither one shows that a factory exists. Read both with the status, the date of establishment and the contribution period, check the date of the record and confirm production on site before you pay a deposit.
More on checking a Chinese supplier
In short, use the two capital figures as one clue and verify the rest. Tell us about your order if you want help preparing the questions for your supplier.
I provide supplier verification services, so you should treat my recommendation accordingly. This article is general information, not legal advice.