PRC tax rules, in plain English
sourced from the officials

Practical tax and compliance notes for foreign-invested businesses operating in China — transcribed from the State Taxation Administration, Ministry of Finance and the State Council, with contested points flagged.

Official sources only Reviewed by a licensed accountant Contested points flagged

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Tax note

China's 183-Day Rule: Tax Residency Explained

An expatriate manager arrives in Shanghai on 1 October and leaves on 31 March. Payroll asks a single question:···

2026-11-03 · Individual Income Tax Law · State Council Order 707 · MOF/STA Announcements 34 and 35 of 2019
Tax note

What Is a Fapiao? China's Tax Invoice Explained

A fapiao is the invoice the Chinese tax system recognises. It is not a receipt, not a sales slip, and not an o···

2026-11-03 · Invoice Measures (State Council Order 764) · STA Announcements 16/2017 & 11/2024
Tax note

China Dividend Withholding Tax & Treaty Relief

A non-resident company that receives a dividend from a Chinese company pays 10% withholding tax on the gross a···

2026-11-02 · EIT Law · STA Announcements 35/2019 & 9/2018
Tax note

China Corporate Income Tax Rates

Enterprise income tax is levied on the taxable income of resident enterprises — companies incorporated in Chin···

2026-10-11 · EIT Law · MOF/STA Announcement No. 12 of 2023
Tax note

China Individual Income Tax Brackets

China taxes individuals on worldwide income once they become tax resident, and the test is 183 days of physica···

2026-10-11 · IIT Law · State Council Order No. 707 · STA Order No. 57
Tax note

China VAT Rates at a Glance

China's Value-Added Tax is the first tax a foreign business meets when it sells into the country, and it is th···

2026-10-11 · VAT Law 2026 · State Council Order No. 826 · MOF/STA Announcements 10, 11 & 13 of 2026

Why this site is different

Nothing invented

Every note is transcribed or adapted from official PRC publications, with the issuing authority cited on the page.

Reviewed by a licensed accountant

Each note passes through an intermediate accountant with 10+ years in practice — see the reviewer page for credentials.

Disagreements on the record

Where local practice differs or the rules are contested, the note says so — instead of pretending the answer is settled.

Disclaimer: China Tax Notes is an independent reference site. It is not affiliated with any government body, and nothing here is official legal or tax advice. Always confirm against the cited authority or a qualified adviser before acting.