China unveils a series of tax measures to help fight epidemic

China has unveiled a series of tax reform measures to face up to the unprecedented challenge of the novel coronavirus epidemic.

1、Tax incentives

1) To implement the preferential policies that have been issued, to support epidemic control and treatment, guarantee essential material supplies of enterprises, and encourage public welfare donations.

2）To provide tax incentives for industries seriously affected by the epidemic, such as accommodation, catering, entertainment, transportation and tourism.

3) To accurately screen taxpayers entitled to tax benefits by tax big data and third-party data, and inform them by SMS, WeChat and other methods.

2. "Non – contact" tax handling

1) To further expand online tax payments by dint of the electronic tax bureau and self-service tax handling terminals. By 2020, over 90 percent of major tax-related services for taxpayers will be handled online.

2) To promote third-party tax payments on the mobile terminal of the electronic tax bureau.

3) To expand coverage of "online application, mail delivery" for invoice collection and issuance.

4) To optimize and expand "non-contact" export tax refund (exemption) service.

5) To use the 12366 tax service hotline, website, WeChat and other online platforms to carry out interactive policy promotion and guidance, and provide consultations about and solutions to tax payment issues.

6) For tax and fee payers whose issues must be done in person, we will arrange appointments at convenient times, and even accept deferment of non-primary documents.

3. Various exemptions and extensions

1) Temporary lowering or waiving social insurance contributions policy. Insured units that already made relevant contributions in February will be eligible for offsetting refunds according to the regulation.

2) For those affected by the epidemic who have special difficulties in filing tax returns or paying tax within the prescribed time limit, the extension of time limits shall be handled in accordance with the law.

3) Local taxation bureaus may reasonably adjust the regular quota of individual businesses according to the epidemic situation.

For more details, please refer to the "State Taxation Administration's Opinions on Providing People with Convenience in Tax Handling in 2020".