The first electronic invoice on the Chinese mainland was issued by Chinese online retailer Jingdong Mall in Beijing on June 27, 2013, according to Beijing Morning Post report.

Beijing has launched its first stage of the pilot issuing of e-invoices, which enables online consumers in the city to be the first to get e-invoices while purchasing books, audio and video products on the Jingdong online shop, according to the report.

Li Wei, Chief of the Science and Technology Development Department at the Beijing National Tax Bureau, said that e-invoices, similar to a paper invoice, represent the legal proof of purchase and customer service rights.

In addition to the only coding and Anti-counterfeit taxation code needed for paper invoices, e-invoices also require an electronic seal and a QR code, which guarantees that they are more secure than paper invoices, Taxation Vice President of Jingdong Mall Cai Lei explained.

Cai also pointed out that the red electronic seal would turn grey if the PDF file of the e-invoice is changed illegally.

Li Wei added that customers could verify the authenticity of the e-invoice through the web portal of the Beijing National Tax Bureau.

He also pointed out that e-invoices differ from network invoices, and explained that enterprises still need to obtain paper invoices.

According to Li, the reimbursement of e-invoices will be solved in the second stage of the pilot scheme.

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