Invoicing and corporate
payment for an AI API
Invoices under CNY 2,000 carry a flat CNY 80 processing fee; at CNY 2,000 and above it is 5% of the invoice value. Companies can pay by bank transfer and receive a Chinese VAT invoice. Figures current as of 2026-09-02.
Four numbers to know first
Small-invoice fee
A flat CNY 80 when the invoice value is below CNY 2,000 — not a percentage.
Large-invoice fee
5% of the invoice value once it reaches CNY 2,000.
Alipay per-transaction cap
An upstream channel limit. Split larger amounts across several top-ups, or pay by bank transfer.
Enterprise provisioning
About an hour during business hours once the transfer lands and you email us.
Why invoicing an AI API is the hard part
Self-serve channels at the frontier vendors generally take credit cards only; invoicing and bank transfer go through a sales process, often behind a seat or contract minimum, and what you get is an overseas invoice rather than a Chinese VAT invoice your finance team can book. That is where "we can use it but cannot expense it" comes from: the technical side works, the accounting side does not. A reseller with a domestic entity is exactly what closes that gap.
Current terms (2026-09-02)
The processing fee has two bands by invoice value: a flat CNY 80 below CNY 2,000, and 5% at CNY 2,000 and above. Make sure your account balance covers the fee, then email hi@qcode.cc with the invoice title, tax ID and invoice amount. Enterprise customers can pay by corporate bank transfer and receive a proper VAT invoice; a formal service agreement can be signed for larger contracts.
What a full corporate purchase looks like
Fix the amount and the tier. Individual plans can be paid straight from the recharge page; for a team plan, use the calculator on /enterprise to get the total including the one-time setup fee and the 5% invoice fee.
Pay. Small amounts go through Alipay or WeChat self-service; for larger amounts or when it must come from the company account, ask us for the bank details and transfer directly.
Once it lands, email us to request the invoice and provisioning. Team plans go live in about an hour during business hours; the invoice is issued against the title and tax ID you supply.
Confirmed terms vs common misreadings
Confirmed
① Proper VAT invoices are available, with a two-band processing fee (CNY 80 / 5%). ② Companies can pay by bank transfer. ③ A formal service agreement is available for larger contracts. ④ Requests go to hi@qcode.cc, and your balance must cover the fee first.
Common misreadings
① "Invoices are free" — no, the two bands above apply. ② "Topping up issues an invoice automatically" — no, you have to ask by email. ③ "CNY and USD balances offset each other" — no, they are tracked separately and do not mix. ④ "An overseas invoice is a VAT invoice" — no, most Chinese finance teams will not book the former.
Individual self-service vs corporate transfer
Individuals and small teams: self-service
Top up with Alipay, WeChat, a card or crypto and provision immediately. Request an invoice separately by email when you need one, at the fee bands above. Fine when the amount is modest and the expense process is simple.
Companies: bank transfer plus VAT invoice
Pay from the company account, receive a proper VAT invoice, and sign a formal service agreement where required. Suited to purchases that need a contract, an input invoice, or a larger amount. Team plans are provisioned in about an hour during business hours once funds arrive.
How to request an invoice
① Check that your balance covers the fee (CNY 80 below CNY 2,000; 5% at CNY 2,000 and above). ② Email hi@qcode.cc with the invoice title, taxpayer identification number, invoice amount, invoice type (general or special VAT) and the address to send it to. ③ We verify and issue the electronic invoice. Corporate purchases can be handled in the same thread — ask for the bank details and transfer.
On QCode
Top-ups accept Alipay (platform absorbs the processing fee, up to CNY 2,000 per transaction), WeChat Pay (about CNY 900 per transaction, with card payment on the same checkout page) and crypto (manually verified, no platform fee, usually 1–2 days). CNY and USD balances are tracked separately and do not mix, so decide which one you need before topping up. The CNY minimum is 100 and only whole amounts are accepted.
FAQ
How exactly is the invoice fee calculated?
Two bands by invoice value: a flat CNY 80 below CNY 2,000, and 5% of the value at CNY 2,000 and above. The fee is deducted from your balance, so top up enough before requesting.
Can you issue a special VAT invoice? How do I supply the title and tax ID?
Email hi@qcode.cc with the title, taxpayer identification number, amount and the invoice type you need (general or special VAT), and we issue against that. The exact type and rate depend on the circumstances at issuance — ask in the same email if you are unsure.
Can we pay by corporate bank transfer? Do we need a contract?
Yes, corporate transfer is supported. A formal service agreement can be signed for larger contracts; smaller purchases generally do not need one.
Alipay will not take a large single payment. What now?
Upstream channel limits cap Alipay at CNY 2,000 per transaction and WeChat at about CNY 900. Split the amount across several top-ups, or use a bank transfer, which is not subject to that per-transaction cap.
Can the CNY and USD balances be used interchangeably?
No. They are tracked separately and do not transfer between each other; a top-up lands in the balance of that currency. Check which currency your intended plan is priced in before paying.
Can I get a refund?
No. What we sell is a digital good: once provisioned it occupies account resources and starts metering. Member-to-member balance transfers are supported instead — email hi@qcode.cc with the amount and the recipient's address, usually handled within one business day. Withdrawals are not supported.
Sources
Fee bands and request process: the FAQ on /pricing and the recharge notes in the console (checked 2026-09-02). Corporate transfer and VAT invoicing: the FAQ on /enterprise. Channel limits and settlement times: the notes on the recharge page. That self-serve channels at the frontier vendors take cards only and route invoicing through sales: their official help centres (checked 2026-09-02); their own pages govern.
Work out the total first, then ask for the invoice
The team-plan calculator folds the one-time setup fee and the 5% invoice fee into the total.
Further reading
QCode pricing guide
Plan tiers, the unit-price basis and the arithmetic people usually get wrong.
Crypto payment guide
On-chain top-ups with USDT and USDC: process, fees and settlement time.
Paying from Russia
SBP and Russian cards: availability, limits and the usual failure modes.
The fees, limits and processes on this page reflect the terms in force on 2026-09-02 and may change; the checkout page and our email confirmation govern. Tax treatment is a matter for your local rules and your own finance team.