Read in Chinese

Speakers:

Mr. Rao Lixin, deputy commissioner of the State Taxation Administration (STA)

Mr. Huang Yun, spokesperson of the STA and director general of the General Office of the STA

Mr. Shen Xinguo, director general of the Taxpayer Service Department of the STA

Ms. Meng Yuying, director general of the International Taxation Department of the STA

Chairperson:

Mr. Xie Yingjun, deputy director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO

Date:

Jan. 18, 2024

Xie Yingjun:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). Today, we invited Mr. Rao Lixin, deputy commissioner of the State Taxation Administration (STA), to brief you on harnessing taxation to promote high-quality development, and answer your questions. Also present at today's press conference are Mr. Huang Yun, spokesperson of the STA and director general of the General Office of the STA; Mr. Shen Xinguo, director general of the Taxpayer Service Department of the STA; and Ms. Meng Yuying, director general of the International Taxation Department of the STA.

First, I will give the floor to Mr. Rao Lixin for his introduction.

Rao Lixin:

Thank you, Mr. Xie, and friends from the media. Today marks the Laba Festival according to the Chinese lunar calendar. As the saying goes, "After the Laba Festival, the Chinese New Year is just around the corner." I would like to take this opportunity to extend New Year wishes to you all on behalf of the STA. We sincerely express our gratitude to taxpayers, fee payers and all sectors of society for your concern, understanding and support for the work of the tax departments.

Reflecting on the recently concluded year, under the strong leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China's economy rebounded, with substantial progress made in high-quality development. The national tax system adhered to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and fully implemented the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress. We conducted an education campaign on the study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and conscientiously implemented the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. We steadfastly grasped the primary task of contributing to high-quality development, focusing on main responsibilities and core functions. We faithfully performed our duties, effectively leveraging taxation's fundamental, pillar and guaranteeing roles in national governance.

First, we organized tax and fee revenue collection in accordance with the laws and regulations, striving to establish a robust foundation for financial security. We upheld the sacred mission of "gathering wealth for the country and collecting taxes for the people," shouldering the responsibility of being the "main force" in safeguarding the country's financial resources. In 2023, the total tax and fee revenues for the year amounted to 31.7 trillion yuan ($4.41 trillion, after deducting export tax rebates; the amount before deduction was 33.5 trillion yuan), with 15.9 trillion yuan in tax revenue and 8.2 trillion yuan in social security fees.

Second, we implemented and detailed tax and fee preferential policies, striving to promote economic recovery. The tax authorities actively participated in the research and formulation of preferential tax policies, conscientiously fulfilling its main responsibility for implementing these policies. Since the State Council optimized and improved preferential tax policies in July 2023, the national tax system accurately communicated these policies to more than 670 million households (individuals), enhancing tax administration efficiency from "policy outreach" to "policy implementation." In 2023, the country's newly implemented tax refunds, as well as cuts and deferrals of taxes and fees, exceeded 2.2 trillion yuan, effectively stabilizing market expectations, boosting market confidence and stimulating market vitality.

Third, we continued to optimize tax payment measures, striving to enhance the tax business environment. We carried out the "Spring Breeze Action to Facilitate Citizens' Handling of Tax Affairs" for the 10th consecutive year, introducing a series of tax payment service measures for the public's convenience in five batches. Targeted service measures were launched, with a focus on private economic entities such as micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, aiming to continuously enhance the refinement, intelligence and personalization of tax services. Simultaneously, in collaboration with the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, we launched the "Spring Rain to Moisten Seedlings" special campaign, organizing the Service Month and Service Season activities for small and medium-sized enterprises. We conducted a total of over 10,000 other activities, soliciting suggestions throughout the tax payment process and tax service experiences.

Fourth, we effectively improved tax supervision capabilities, striving to maintain the order of the market economy. We continued to enhance the new tax supervision system based on a dynamic "credit plus risk" approach, and took action to address problems in high-risk industries. We fully leveraged the regular working mechanism of the eight departments — taxation, public security, courts, procuratorates, People's Bank of China, customs, market supervision and foreign exchange management — to crack down on tax-related crimes. We investigated and dealt with tax-related illegal cases such as tax evasion and fraudulent tax practices, recovering 181 billion yuan in tax losses of various types. We also increased the exposure of typical cases, effectively maintaining a fair and just economic and taxation order.

Fifth, we have accelerated the building of a smart taxation system and improved the efficiency of tax and fee governance. We have thoroughly implemented the Opinions on Further Deepening the Reform of Tax Collection and Administration issued by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council. New progress has been made in areas of accurate law enforcement, targeted services, precise supervision, and sincere co-governance. A total of 31 measures concerning the reform of tax collection and administration have been deepened and expanded. We have also promoted smart taxation in an integrated way. In particular, an electronic invoice service platform has been established and put into use across the country, fully digitized electronic invoice pilot projects have seen continuous development, and new electronic taxation bureaus have been launched and expanded. These outcomes showed that the digital upgrading and intelligent transformation of tax and fee collection and administration have moved up to a new level.

Sixth, we have deepened international taxation exchanges and cooperation and concentrated on supporting high-level opening up. We have thoroughly implemented General Secretary Xi Jinping's important discourses on opening up, strengthened the construction of multilateral taxation cooperation platforms, and constantly improved the Belt and Road Initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Mechanism. We hosted a high-level international symposium on the digitalization of taxation administration, built and officially launched "TaxExpress," a cross-border taxation service brand, and continued to expand China's taxation treaty network to 114 countries and regions, better contributing to the strategies of "going global" and "bringing in."

Next, tax departments across the nation will rally more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, continue to consolidate and expand the gains from theoretical study programs and advance high-quality taxation practices through a Chinese path to modernization, contributing more and greater strength to building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts. Thank you.

Xie Yingjun:

Thank you. The floor is now open to questions. Please identify the media outlet you represent before raising your questions.