The fingerprinting of the IOU is legally binding. Under normal circumstances, IOUs must be signed and fingerprinted, but signatures, seals, and fingerprints have the same legal effect. IOUs do not need to explicitly require fingerprints. As long as the reason for the debt and the amount of the debt are clearly written and signed by the debtor, the handwritten IOU will be legally binding. If the repayment period is clearly stipulated in the IOU, the IOU will be valid within 3 years from the date of the repayment period. If there is no clear agreement on the repayment period, it will be valid within 3 years from the date when the right is first claimed. Legal basis: Article 668 of the Civil Code: A loan contract shall be in writing, unless otherwise agreed upon for a loan between natural persons. The content of a loan contract generally includes terms such as loan type, currency, purpose, amount, interest rate, term and repayment method. Article 669 of the Civil Code: When entering into a loan contract, the borrower shall provide the true situation of business activities and financial status related to the loan as required by the lender.

Legal Basis

Article 668 Form and Content of Loan Contracts of the People’s Republic of China and Civil Code A loan contract shall be in writing, but for loans between natural persons Unless otherwise agreed. The content of a loan contract generally includes terms such as loan type, currency, purpose, amount, interest rate, term and repayment method.

Article 669 of the "People's Republic of China and Civil Code" The borrower shall provide true information and is obliged to conclude a loan contract, and the borrower shall provide business activities related to the loan in accordance with the requirements of the lender and financial status.