申报

• Pinyin: shēn bào
• Hanzi breakdown: 申 = 田 + 丨 (to state formally); 报 = 幸 + 又 (to report, to respond)

Meaning

To declare; to report to an authority; to file a formal report or declaration, especially for tax, customs, or registration purposes.

A formal administrative term used when an individual or organisation is required to disclose information to a government authority. Common in taxation, customs, and project registration contexts.

Examples

1. 出境旅客需要如实向海关申报携带的物品。 Travelers leaving the country must truthfully declare the items they are carrying to customs.
2. 企业必须在规定期限内向税务局申报年度收入。 Companies must file their annual income with the tax bureau within the required time period.
3. 研究人员向科技部门申报了新的科研项目。 Researchers filed a new research project with the science and technology authorities.

Usage Guide

Context: government, tax, customs, administration

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 纳税人应按时申报个人所得税，避免产生罚款。(Taxpayers should file their personal income tax returns on time to avoid penalties.)
• 凡携带超过规定金额现金入境者，须向海关申报。(Anyone entering the country with cash exceeding the stipulated amount must declare it to customs.)

Don't Say

• 申报 in casual speech — use 报告 or 汇报 for informal reporting; 申报 is specifically for official declarations to authorities

Origin & History

申 (to state, to report formally) + 报 (to report, to declare)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal