Category: China

TAX MATTERS | THE TAXATION OF COMPANIES IN MACAU – WORLDWIDE OR TERRITORIAL BASIS? (CONT.)

Our previous article about the taxable basis for the taxation of companies in the Macau territory made reference to the fact that the courts in Macau, notably the Court of Second Instance (TSI) and the Tax Administration, do not seem to share the same view regarding income considered as the… – Continue reading

China to introduce more measures to facilitate foreign investment

BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) — The Chinese government will roll out more measures to facilitate the delivery of major foreign-invested projects, lower tariffs on some imported goods and streamline customs clearance procedures at a faster pace, as was decided at the State Council executive meeting presided over by Premier Li… – Continue reading

The Hukou System in Shanghai: Benefits, Eligibility, and Application Process

Hukou (户口) is a system of household registration in China. Each citizen is issued a household register under supervision of the Ministry of Public Security, China’s police. Hukou serves as an identity proof for citizens, recording their basic information and permanent residence. The hukou registration also determines access to housing,… – Continue reading

Investing in Guangdong Easier for Foreign Firms after New Incentives Announced

On September 13, South China’s Guangdong province announced a series of investment incentives and cost-cutting measures to offset the impact of the worsening trade war with the US. The measures, outlined in the Policy Measures for Expanding Opening-up and Using Foreign Investment, consist of a 10-point plan to attract foreign… – Continue reading

China’s new income tax laws to bring ‘profound implications’

In June this year, the Chinese government announced much-anticipated revisions to the country’s individual income tax laws. KPMG Partner and Senior Advisor Michael Olesnicky says that these new revisions will likely have ‘profound implications’ within the wealth management community in Asia. Hubbis CEO Michael Stanhope recently spoke with him about… – Continue reading

Australia’s fugitive Chinese accounts frozen

The top story in the finance section on Tuesday morning is about the Chinese government’s hunt for hidden assets (and unpaid taxes) overseas. The article mentions Australia and New Zealand freezing accounts from customers who don’t identify if they are foreign taxpayers. It goes on to say many of the… – Continue reading

China Joins International Financial Data Exchange to Take on Tax Evasion

(Yicai Global) Sept. 5 — China’s tax authority will begin sharing residents’ financial investment data with around 100 countries this month in a bid to crack down on tax evasion. The State Administration of Taxation will begin exchanging data to learn more about what Chinese citizens are doing with their… – Continue reading

China Tax Cuts Worth RMB 45 Billion to Support Economy Amid Slowdown

On August 30, China’s State Council announced RMB 45 billion (US$6.59 billion) worth of tax cuts for businesses and investors. With the tax cuts, the Chinese government hopes to reduce the burden on small and micro-enterprises, encourage investors to continue lending, and ensure capital flow in the economy. The tax… – Continue reading

China adopts revised individual income tax law

BEIJING, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) — China’s top legislature on Friday voted to adopt the revised Individual Income Tax Law in an effort to pursue fairer income distribution. Lawmakers approved the legislation at the end of a five-day bimonthly session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee. The new law… – Continue reading

Government approves double taxation avoidance pact with Macau

Hanoi (VNA) – The Government has approved an agreement between Vietnam and China’s Macau Special Administrative Region on the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of income tax evasion. The Government assigned the Ministry of Finance to chair and coordinate the two sides’ relevant agencies to implement the pact. The… – Continue reading

Shanghai Business Registration: Online Platform for Foreign Invested Enterprises Launched

Shanghai recently launched a new online platform to facilitate the business registration of foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) in the city. Launched on June 30, 2018, the platform makes it easier for foreign investors to report their business information to the Administration of Industry and Commerce (AIC) if their projects do not… – Continue reading

How to Apply for CIT Incentives in China

China offers a number of preferential corporate income tax (CIT) policies for businesses operating in the country. Businesses that qualify for these preferential policies can benefit from incentives like CIT rates lower than the standard 25 percent rate and other CIT exemptions and deductions. These preferential tax treatments, however, do… – Continue reading

China decides to impose additional tariffs on 16 bln USD of U.S. imports

BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) — China has decided to impose additional tariffs on imported products from the United States worth about 16 billion U.S. dollars, according to an official statement released Wednesday. Approved by the State Council, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council has decided to impose additional… – Continue reading

Macau | City to comply with OECD tax information exchange from September 1

Macau financial authorities announced today that starting from September 1 the city will start complying with automatic financial exchange regulations devised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Macau (MNA) – The Office of the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lionel Leong Vai Tac, has announced this Tuesday that… – Continue reading

China’s top legislature reviews draft amendment to Individual Income Tax Law

BEIJING, June 19 (Xinhua) — The Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) has begun reviewing a draft amendment to the Individual Income Tax Law at its bimonthly session that opened Tuesday. The draft amendment raises the minimum threshold for personal income tax from 3,500 yuan (about 544 U.S…. – Continue reading

Chinese City to Utilise Blockchain to Fight Tax Evasion

Shenzhen’s tax authority has partnered with Chinese internet giant, Tencent, to combat tax evasions in the city. According to an announcement on Thursday, Tencent and the Shenzhen National Taxation Bureau have been jointly working towards setting up an innovation lab called ‘intelligent tax’, with an aim to introduce technological innovations… – Continue reading

China’s Hong Kong signs tax pact with Finland

HONG KONG, May 24 (Xinhua) — The government of China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Thursday signed a comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreement (CDTA) with Finland, further expanding the HKSAR’s tax treaty network. The HKSAR government’s Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury James Lau and Consul-General… – Continue reading

Wary Pak not acting against tax evading Chinese firm

Islamabad: Pakistan customs officials are reportedly reluctant to file a criminal case against a Chinese company for evading taxes due to what they described as “national interests”. According to the Express Tribune, sensitivities related to the over USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, is preventing customs from filing… – Continue reading

Withholding Corporate Income Tax in China

In China, withholding Corporate Income Tax (CIT) is applied to the following China-sourced incomes derived by non-resident enterprises without establishments in China, or to that derived by non-resident enterprises with establishments in China but whose income is not related to these establishments: Dividends, bonuses, and other equity investment proceeds; Interests,… – Continue reading

Macau | City preparing to join OECD automatic financial exchange agreement – Financial bureau

The Macau government is preparing to sign the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement on Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information which will allow automatic tax information exchange with other members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Macau (MNA) – The Financial Services Bureau (DSF) has informed Macau News Agency… – Continue reading

Constraints upon future tax policies | Being Basic (Law) is good

Doing away with the outdated and increasingly minority offshore tax system can create problems with what the Basic Law says ‘The Macau Special Administrative Region shall, on its own, make policies on tourism and recreation in the light of its overall interests,’ states the Basic Law in Article 118. Today,… – Continue reading

Singapore activates three new Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information relationships

AEOI deals with the challenge of taxpayers operating cross-border but tax administrations remaining confined to their national borders, by providing an open international architecture. Singapore has activated three new Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information (AEOI) relationships under the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement (MCAA) on Automatic Exchange of Financial Account… – Continue reading

Cambodia, Vietnam ink double taxation agreement

Cambodia has signed a double taxation agreement with Vietnam that protects each country’s nationals from dual taxation, according to a news release from the General Department of Taxation released on Tuesday. The agreement was signed on Saturday on the sidelines of the Greater Mekong Subregion Summit held in Hanoi. Chou… – Continue reading

China’s Police Force Reveals Offshore Exchange Surveillance

According to regional reports, China’s police agency is allegedly monitoring cryptocurrency exchanges based outside of the country. An informant details that China’s Public Information Network Security Supervision task-force is closely watching both domestic and foreign trading platforms involved with cryptocurrencies to prevent fraud, pyramid schemes, and money laundering. China’s Regulators… – Continue reading

China’s Anti-tax Avoidance Rules

The general anti-avoidance rule was first introduced in China under the 2008 CIT Law. It empowers Chinese tax authorities to make reasonable adjustments where an enterprise implements an arrangement without reasonable business purposes in order to reduce its taxable income or profit. According to the CIT Law’s Implementation Guidelines, “an… – Continue reading

China Sets Out How To Determine Beneficial Owner For Treaties

On February 3, 2018, China’s State Administration of Taxation set out new rules on the disallowance of tax treaty benefits where an entity fails to demonstrate it is the beneficial owner of Chinese assets from which passive income is derived. A beneficial ownership requirement is introduced in treaties to prevent… – Continue reading

Indian Tax Department Sends Notices to Cryptocurrency Investors

India’s tax dept. orders investors to pay up after national survey reveals $3.5 billion worth of transactions during a 17-month period. Indian cryptocurrency investors have been issued notices by the income tax department, after a national survey revealed that cryptocurrency transactions during a 17-month period amounted to more than $3.5… – Continue reading

Taxation agreement with Singapore in effect

The double tax avoidance agreement (DTA) between Cambodia and Singapore came into effect this month, helping clarify taxation rights on all forms of income arising from cross-border business activities, while minimising double taxation. On January 1 the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) issued an announcement stating that the DTA… – Continue reading

There Is a Raging Battle of Tax Codes with China and the US Starting the Race

The GOP tax bill that was signed into law by the white house late last year, significantly reduced corporate taxes which has piled pressure on other significant economies around the world to adjust so as not to lose investors to the United States. Just hours after President Trump signed the… – Continue reading

Swiss Come Clean Amid Data Swaps

Switzerland’s abandonment of banking secrecy for international tax dodgers is having an unexpected side effect at home: more domestic tax cheats with accounts around Europe are coming forward. If 2017 was the glide path for Switzerland’s international data-swapping agreements, this year means business: Swiss banks must automatically share client data… – Continue reading

China toughens rules on overseas cash withdrawals

BEIJING, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) — China’s foreign exchange regulator on Saturday toughened the rules on overseas cash withdrawals from personal bank cards to curb money laundering, terrorist financing and tax evasion. The State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) said in a circular that the total amount of overseas cash withdrawals… – Continue reading

China to offer tax breaks to foreign companies after GOP tax bill

A 10% tax that China has slapped exclusively on foreign companies’ profits from equity investments will temporarily be waved if the earnings are plowed into government-targeted sectors, according to a statement issued Thursday by four central government ministries. The move will help retain foreign investment and stabilize cross-border capital flows,… – Continue reading

Hong Kong Finalizes FTA with ASEAN, DTAA with India

Hong Kong recently finalized a series of agreements that, taken together, shift Asia’s trade and investment landscape. On November 12, Hong Kong and ASEAN signed the ASEAN-Hong Kong, China Free Trade Agreement (AHKFTA), and the ASEAN-Hong Kong Investment Agreement (AHKIA). Prior to this, on November 10, Hong Kong and India… – Continue reading

Cabinet Gives Nod To Signing Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement With Hong Kong

The Cabinet today gave its green light to an agreement between India and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of China for avoiding double taxation and prevention of tax evasion. The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi also approved the protocol amending the agreement between India and Kyrgyzstan… – Continue reading

Mainland China briefing: Implementation of CRS

On 1 July 2017, the “Administrative Measures on Due Diligence of Non-resident Financial Account Information in Tax Matters” (the Measures) came into effect. The Measures were jointly promulgated in May 2017 by the State Administration of Taxation (SAT), the Ministry of Finance, the People‘s Bank of China, the China Banking… – Continue reading

Philippine Government `On a Roll’ Against Tax Evaders: Dominguez

(Bloomberg) — The Philippine government plans to target additional companies in its crackdown on tax evasion, said Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez “We are on a roll, and this is part of the president’s program to make our country more law abiding,” Dominguez told Bloomberg Television’s Kathleen Hays in an interview… – Continue reading

China issues guidelines to curb money laundering, terrorism financing and tax evasion

BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s state council issued guidelines on Wednesday on improving supervision to curb money laundering, terrorism financing and tax evasion. China will step up monitoring of abnormal cross-border capital movements to crackdown on cross-border financial crimes, the state council said in a statement on its website, adding that… – Continue reading

HONG KONG, SINGAPORE AND CHINA GET TOUGH ON TAX HAVENS

In an effort to create a ‘level playing field’, Asian economies are committing to new standards of transparency At the risk of losing some foreign investors, Asian jurisdictions are stepping up efforts to combat corporate tax avoidance to meet new global transparency standards. More than a dozen Asia-Pacific jurisdictions have… – Continue reading

Multi-dollar tax evasion discovered in import companies

HÀ NỘI — A number of enterprises have taken advantage of technology used for tax collection to avoid paying taxes. The Law on Value Added Tax (VAT) regulates that unprocessed, or preliminarily processed, agricultural, forestry and aquatic products imported from foreign countries are not subject to VAT. However, if these… – Continue reading

Top tax rate of 49.5pc would push multinationals offshore

A top personal tax rate of 49.5 per cent will hasten the trend for multinationals to base their operations in Asia rather than Australia, according to recruiters and tax specialists. “There is no doubt higher taxes make Australia a less attractive country for international executives who can just as easily… – Continue reading

New rules in China lay trap for tax cheats at home and abroad

New reporting regulations meant to help authorities track down evasion at home and corrupt officials overseas Beijing has ordered an overhaul of financial accounts to crack down on tax cheats at home and abroad. From July 1, all deposit-taking institutions, policy banks, investment agencies and insurers must ensure each new… – Continue reading