China Tax Brief
For those considering moving abroad, China is an extremely popular destination to live and work, especially for Aussie expats.
China presents many exciting and lucrative work opportunities. However, before making the move, itβs important to know exactly what to expect β particularly regarding Chinese tax laws.
To help make your expat journey as smooth as possible, here is a comprehensive guide to the tax rules youβll be expected to follow during your time in China.
Do you need to lodge an Australian tax return?
If you are classified as an Australian tax resident for Australian tax purposes, the answer is yes. In this case, the Australian Tax Office requires all Australian residents to lodge annual Australian tax returns.
Within this tax return, you must declare all income you receive whilst working in China and everywhere else in the world for that matter (Australian residents are taxed on their worldwide income).
If you are classified as a non-resident for Australian tax purposes, you’ll still need to satisfy your Australian tax lodgement obligations by lodging either of:
- an Australian taxation return, or
- a return not necessary/non-lodgement advice.
For more information about whether you need to lodge an Australian taxation return, refer to our earlier article: Do I need to lodge a tax return while living overseas?
Does income generated in China need to be included on your Australian tax return?
Yes. The ATO requires you to report all income you have earned whilst in China on your Australian tax documentation.
According to the rules, you must report all of your income obtained through foreign employment (this includes assessable income and exempt income). You must report this income to the ATO, even if the tax was already taken out in the taxes youβve paid in China.
Are there any exceptions to this rule?
In some cases, you may be exempt from paying tax on your income earned in China. This includes being:
- A member of the Australian police or defence force, or;
- Part of an organisation which is involved in foreign aid work
However, if you have paid foreign tax on your Chinese income (and itβs not classified as exempt foreign employment income), simply add this tax back to your net employment income. This will determine all assessable income you have for that year.
Who exactly is a resident of China?
If you have a domicile in China, or have resided in China for over 12 months (without a domicile), you are considered a resident of China. In this context, βdomicileβ refers to maintaining a residence in China:
- On account of residency registration
- Family ties, or;
- Economic interests
And, β12 monthsβ refers to 365 days within the taxation year. Days in which you temporarily leave China (a single trip of no more than 30 days or several trips of no more than 90 days) are not deducted from the taxation year.
Does China tax you on worldwide income, or just income generated there?
Yes. In fact, with recent revisions to the personal income tax code, it has become even easier for China to impose taxes on the income generated by foreign employees offshore.
If you are classified as a resident of China, you are also considered a resident taxpayer. This means you are subject to Chinaβs tax laws regarding worldwide income.
These recent foreign tax law changes leave many believing that Chinaβs tax system is becoming far less attractive to foreign workers.
What are Chinaβs personal tax rates?
Regardless of whether you are a Chinese resident or a non-resident, China applies the same income tax rules to everyone. This means your monthly salary will fall into one of the following progressive tax brackets:
| Income | Marginal Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $1,500 | 3% |
| $1,501 – $4,500 | 10% |
| $1,501 – $4,500 | 10% |
| $4,501 – $9,000 | 10% |
| $9,001 – $35,000 | 25% |
| $9,001 – $35,000 | 30% |
| $55,001 – $80,000 | 35% |
| $80,001 or more | 45% |
How are you taxed in China as a non-resident?
The tax you are required to pay as a non-resident varies depending on how long you reside in China.
If you have resided in China for at least 12 months (but less than five years), you are subject to Chinaβs income tax rules. This applies to income earned within and outside of China.
If you reside in China for under 90 days in a 12-month period, you are:
- Exempt from income tax (if income is generated by overseas employer)
- Required to pay tax on income paid by your Chinese employer for services performed in China.
If you reside in China for more than 183 days (in accordance with Australiaβs tax treaty agreement), but under 12 months, you:
- Are required to pay tax on income generated in China
- Assessable income encompasses all employment income (paid by an employer within or outside of China)
As a non-resident, you are also taxed on:
- Self-employment income β This includes money earned for personal services performed while in China, bonus payments earned, and any income deemed taxable by Chinaβs Ministry of Finance
- Investment income β Any income derived from dividends, interest and investments (which come from Chinese sources). You are required to pay a flat 20 percent tax rate on this income, with no deductions available.
Is there an Australia-China tax treaty?
Yes. The treaty is designed to eliminate double taxation. In addition, the Australian-Chinese taxation treaty provides reduced rates of withholding tax on interest repayments, royalties and dividends.
However, the way Australia and China interpret this treaty depends upon both Australiaβs and Chinaβs interpretation of taxation laws.
Say, for example, you are employed by a Chinese company. In this case, Chinese tax authorities consider any income paid under this contract to be sourced in China. Conversely, the Australian Tax Office determines income sourcing in accordance with where services are performed.
Put simply, in accordance with the Australian-Chinese treaty, you are required to pay income tax on any income generated in China.
When are tax returns due in China?
Chinaβs tax year comprises with the calendar year. You are obligated to file your tax return on or before May 31st of the following year. In addition, according to the jurisdiction, provisional tax reporting and payment is required on either a monthly or quarterly basis. And, provisional payments are settled within 15 days of the corresponding month or quarter.
Do you file individually or jointly with your spouse?
Under Australian taxation law, you are required to file a joint tax return with your spouse. However, this is not the case if you are working in China as an Aussie expat. In China, there is no joint filing of tax returns. Unlike Australia, husbands and wives are assessed and taxed as individuals.
Do you have to pay social security taxes in China?
Yes, you do. If you are an Aussie expat working in China, you are expected to pay social security taxes.
Since October 15th, 2011, it has been mandatory for foreign workers (including Aussie expats) who are living and working in China to contribute to Social Insurance payments.
According to these measures, any foreign expat who is employed by any company in China is legally obligated to contribute to the following:
- Basic pension insurance
- Medical insurance
- Unemployment insurance
- Work-related injury insurance, and;
- Maternity insurance
Are you and/or your employer required to contribute to a pension fund in China?
Along with income tax obligations, you and your employer are required to make Social Insurance payments. In some areas (such as Shanghai), foreign employees can elect to not make Social Insurance payments.
Similar to Australia, you and your Chinese employer are required to contribute to various state-controlled social security programs on your behalf. As mentioned above, these funds cover work-related injuries, maternity, unemployment, medical and pension insurance.
And, thatβs not all. In addition, your employer is charged an average of 20 percent of total payroll expenditures to contribute to a state-controlled retirement fund.
This large contribution can total up to 40 percent of your salary. You can also elect to sacrifice a portion of your monthly pay packet to these funds (the percentage is set by local officials).
Are your non-Chinese assets subject to taxation in China?
Not at first. Under the countryβs current tax provisions, if you reside in China for at least 183 per year, you are not required to pay tax at all. As a non-taxpayer, this also means that your global assets will not be subject to taxation until the sixth year you live in China.
Are there any other tax laws you should be aware of?
In addition to the taxes mentioned elsewhere in this article, China has other tax laws you should keep in mind while residing in the country.
These additional taxes include:
Value added tax (VAT) β Similar to Australiaβs GST, this national tax is placed on the sale or importation of goods, as well as the provision of processing, repairs and replacement services.
Stamp tax β Known in Australia as stamp duty, this is levied at individuals who receive or execute βspecified documentationβ. Rates range from 0.005 percent of a loanβs value to 0.1 of property leasing and insurance contracts.
Real estate tax β Imposed on owners or users of residential buildings, the tax rate is 1.2 percent of the buildingβs value.
Motor vehicle acquisition tax – This tax equates to 10 percent on the purchase or importation of any motor vehicle. This includes: cars, trams, motorcycles, trailers, carts and certain types of trucks.
National education surcharge and local education surcharge β The national education surcharge (of three percent) applies to individuals and corporations which pay either the VAT, BT or consumption tax.
The local education surcharge (of two percent) is applied at the local governmentβs discretion.
If youβre ready to start the next chapter of your working life in China, call or email the friendly Expat Taxes team today. We will walk you through all of your obligations, making filling out your tax returns much easier.
References cited:
https://expatexplorer.hsbc.com/country-guides/china/tax
http://www.china-briefing.com/news/social-security-china-exemptions-foreigners/
https://asialinkbusiness.com.au/china/business-practicalities-in-china/taxation-in-china
https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/insights/2011/12/china-income-tax.html”
http://www.china-briefing.com/news/china-individual-income-tax-social-insurance-calculator/
http://www.mondaq.com/china/x/657436/Income+Tax/A+Guide+To+Expat+Taxes+Social+Security+In+China
https://www.caixinglobal.com/2018-09-11/foreigners-face-paying-more-tax-in-china-101324746.html
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