Since its inception in 1980, China has been consistently refining its individual income tax (IIT) system. The objective behind these reforms is to maintain an equitable tax contribution from all taxpayers. In this article, we’ll go over existing rules governing China’s individual income tax, detailing the tax brackets, allowable deductions, and specific regulations that apply to foreign nationals residing in China.
China Individual Income Tax Rates
Residents in China are generally taxed on their worldwide income with a progressive tax rate system. Non-residents, on the other hand, are only taxed on their China-sourced income. Personal income in China is categorized into different parts. Below are the 9 types of taxable sources of incomes in China:
- Wages and salary
- Income from remuneration for personal service
- Income from the author’s remuneration
- Income from royalties
- Business income
- Income from interest, dividends, and profits distribution
- Income from rental
- Income from the transfer of property
- Incidental income
The first four income types should be combined in the annual income calculation.
And different kinds of income have different tax rates.
Below, the various income levels and their corresponding rates can be found in the tables provided.
Personal Income Tax Rates
(Taxable income of individual residents in China)
| Level | Annual Taxable Income (CNY*) | Rate (%) | Quick deduction (CNY*) |
| 1 | Up to 36,000 | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | Between 36,000 and 144,000 | 10 | 2,520 |
| 3 | Between 144,000 and 300,000 | 20 | 16,920 |
| 4 | Between 300,000 and 420,000 | 25 | 31,920 |
| 5 | Between 420,000 and 660,000 | 30 | 52,920 |
| 6 | Between 660,000 and 960,000 | 35 | 85,920 |
| 7 | Over 960,000 | 45 | 181,920 |
*Chinese Yuan (Renmimbi)
Personal Income Tax Rates
(Applicable to non-residents. For non-residents, the individual income tax is calculated on a monthly or transaction basis.)
| Level | Monthly Taxable Income (CNY) | Tax Rate (%) | Quick Deduction (CNY) |
| 1 | Up to 3,000 | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | Between 3,000 and 12,000 | 10 | 210 |
| 3 | Between 12,000 and 25,000 | 20 | 1,410 |
| 4 | Between 25,000 and 35,000 | 25 | 2,660 |
| 5 | Between 35,000 and 55,000 | 30 | 4,410 |
| 6 | Between 55,000 and 80,000 | 35 | 7,160 |
| 7 | Over 80,000 | 45 | 15,160 |
The formulas for the calculation of the taxable income and the tax payable are as followed:
- Taxable income = (Total income) – (Initial deduction) – (Special additional deduction/Tax-deductible allowance (especially for foreigners)
- Tax payable = (Taxable income*Tax rate) – (quick deduction)
Tax Residency in China
As we mentioned before, there are different calculation methods for both residents and non-residents in China.
But what is the meaning of these two terms? When an individual is considered a resident in China?
Resident
Individuals with Chinese citizenship and non-Chinese citizenship who spend 183 days or more in China during a tax year are deemed residents for IIT purposes. Residents are subject to IIT on their international income in general.
Non-resident
Non-residents for IIT purposes are non-China-domiciled individuals who spend less than 183 days in China during a tax year. Non-residents are solely subject to IIT on income derived from China.
Deductions and Exemptions
Special Deductions and Other Deductions
A big part of the new China individual income tax law is about deductions.
These include the “special deduction” and “other deductions” that already exist, as well as the “cumulative special additional deductions” that took effect on January 1, 2019.
The “special deduction” includes four items:
- Basic endowment insurance;
- Basic medical insurance;
- Unemployment insurance;
- Housing accumulation fund.
The “other deductions” category includes:
- Annuities;
- Commercial health insurance;
- Tax-deferred pension insurance;
- Original value of property;
- Taxes and fees that are allowed to be deducted.
Specfic Additional Deductions
The specific additional deductions, which were implemented in January 2019, cover a few items like children’s education and rent. IIT legislation permits the following personal deductions (non-refundable and no carryback/forward provisions) when determining taxable comprehensive income for residents:
| Deductible item | Deductible amount (CNY) |
| Child education | 1,000 per child per month |
| Continued education | 400 per month or 3,600 per year depending on the type of qualified continued education |
| Mortgage interest | 1,000 per month |
| Rental expense | 800, 1,100, or 1,500 per month depending on the location |
| Elderly care | Up to 2,000 per month depending on the status of the taxpayer |
| Major medical expense | Qualified self-paid portion above 15,000 and capped at 80,000 per year for each eligible individual |
According to the State Administration of Taxation, the items under the “cumulative special additional deduction” should be filled in the accumulated amount of deduction for children’s education, support to the old people, housing loan interest or housing rent, and continuing education that taxpayers can enjoy as of the current month.
After the introduction of the special additional deduction policy, the personal income tax of employees has been greatly reduced, which brings good benefits to employees.
Tax Law for Foreigners
Clarification on residence for expats in China
Foreign nationals and residents of Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan are taxed in the following ways, depending on their physical presence in China:
- Foreign nationals who stay in China for less than 183 days will only be taxed on income earned in China.
- Foreign individuals who spend 183 days or more in China in a tax year but not for more than six years in a row will be taxed on both their China-source and foreign-source income.
- If a foreign individual lives in China for 183 days or more per year for over six consecutive years, they will be subject to IIT on their worldwide income starting in the seventh year if they live in China for 183 days or more each year. If a foreign individual spends more than 30 days outside of China in any tax year, the’six-year’ count is reset.
- If foreign individuals do not physically reside in China for more than 90 days in a calendar year, they will be tax exempt if they go to China and get income from an overseas employer. The 90-day rule is expanded to 183 days during a calendar year or any 12 consecutive months if the individual is a tax resident of a country/region that has concluded a tax treaty/arrangement with China, depending on the applicable tax treaty/arrangement.
How to calculate the number of days that foreigners (including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents) live in China?
In accordance with the provisions of the law, the number of days of residence in China shall be counted as 24 hours on the day of stay in China.
If it is less than 24 hours, it shall not be counted as the number of days of residence in China.
Tax-free arrangements for the length of time a foreign taxpayer spends in China
In order to attract foreign investment, encourage foreign nationals to work in China, and promote foreign exchanges, the Regulations on the Implementation of the Individual Income Tax Law has the preferential system of tax exemption for overseas income paid by overseas investors in the previous regulations, and relax the conditions for tax exemption.
First, individuals without domicile within the People’s Republic of China who have resided in China for an accumulative period of 183 days but less than six years shall be exempted from individual income tax on their income derived from sources outside of China and paid by units or individuals outside China upon filing with the competent tax authorities.
The key to this provision is the distinction between “cumulate” and ”continuous”.
If you stayed in China for 183 days in total the accumulative period can be continued in the same year.
If you stayed less than 183 days during one year of the previous 6 years, the accumulative period cannot be continued, and the number of the years needed has to be recalculated starting from the year after the interruption.
For example, for a foreigner that lived in China for 183 days in 2019 and 2020, but lived in China for only one month in 2021, the consecutive years should be recalculated from 2022.
Second, in any given year, the number of consecutive years of residence shall be recalculated as long as there is one departure from China for more than 30 days.
For example, for a foreigner who lived in China continuously for more than 183 days in 4 years but left China for more than 30 days in the fifth year, the number of days should be recalculated from the next year.
Third, at present China has signed bilateral tax agreements or arrangements with more than 110 countries and regions, which to some extent avoid the possibility of double taxation on taxpayers.
If relevant problems are encountered, the individual income tax of foreigners shall be further determined according to the specific provisions of the tax agreement.
Can foreigners enjoy both allowance and cumulative special additional deductions?
Until December 31st, 2023, foreigners can continue to enjoy the allowance and reduce their burden for the individual income tax.
However, if they choose this, they cannot choose the specific additional deductions. They can only choose one of the two.
China Individual Income Tax Return
In the new China individual income tax law, from January 1, 2019, taxpayers will have to file the income tax return.
The income tax return is the act of an individual resident to calculate the annual final individual income tax payable annually after combining the wages and salary, income from remuneration for personal service, income from author’s remuneration, income from the use of the special envoy’s authority obtained within a tax year, and after deducting the annual advance tax payment, to calculate the amount of refunded or supplementary tax payable, to report to the tax authorities and carry out the tax settlement.
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