Beijingers pay more income taxes over past 10 years

Beijing is receiving more money from personal income taxes, now than 10 years ago, reveal latest figures of Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics.

Taxpayers turn in a total of 11.04 billion yuan (1.33 billion US dollars) from January to Aug. 20, an increase of 29 percent over the same period in 2003, according to latest official statistics.

Tax officials said the rapid increase in income taxes was largely due to both corporations and citizens income making more money in China's boom.

The stricter personal income tax declaration system, including the intensified taxation management on foreigners' personal incometaxes, has also helped boost the tax revenue, they said.

The proportion of citizens' personal income taxes in Beijing's total tax revenues has jumped from 2 percent in 1994 to 22.9 percent in 2003, ranking the second largest tax variety after the business tax, according to the bureau.

Meanwhile, tax officials said more people will have to pay the personal income taxes with a more standardized and regular tax system. About 6.4 million people declared their personal income taxes in 2003, up from 115,000 people 10 years ago.

Those who earn more than 1,200 yuan (about 145 US dollars) a month in Beijing have to pay 20 percent in personal income tax forthe amount exceeding the benchmark.

Source: Xinhua