Wei Jie, Tao Dandan

claudiamente@hotmail.com

NEARLY 30 expat residents attended a seminar on tax rules and compliance requirements on the declaration of individual income tax (IIT) at the Shekou Foreign Legal Assistance Center on Saturday afternoon, praising the session as “highly informative” and “extremely useful.”

The seminar, organized by the Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats (Shekou MSCE), was the second session of “APEC Talk” series, aiming at bringing together experts from APEC economies to share insights in areas including technology, economics and culture.

Tax experts from Shenzhen Tax Service and a Shekou international volunteer were invited to guide attendees through practical, easy-to-understand elaborations of local tax rules.

Opening the event, Zhang Yanyang, a tax official from Shenzhen Tax Service, outlined tax measures further optimizing the business environment.

The brief introduction was followed by a targeted briefing on key individual tax knowledge, delivered by He Chao, a Shenzhen Tax Service specialist. She noted that in China, income such as wages, bonuses, and even part-time earnings may be subject to individual income tax (IIT).

She also highlighted potential savings through lawful deductions, including social insurance and special additional deductions. In addition, She explained the eight categories of allowances and subsidies available to foreign nationals, showing how each item can directly affect daily finances and compliance planning.

The following Q&A part was supported by Wendy Hou, a Shekou volunteer with more than nine years of experience in foreign-related services. Hou, more commonly known among Shekou expats as Wendy, offers free-of-charge foreign-related tax consultation on designated days at the Shekou center.

Attendees raised a series of real-world issues, including how individual income tax is calculated for foreign retirees with investments in China, how to file IIT when paying oneself a salary after setting up a company, and how taxes may apply when applying for a Chinese Green Card. Participants also asked about tax obligations for income earned while working abroad from their home country and whether tax is required on occasional overseas income remitted to China.

Michael Eagleton, from Australia, described the session as “highly informative,” saying that it gave him a clearer understanding of relevant tax rules.

Sally, an HR professional at a multinational company in Longgang District, said the event offered immediate value. “I’ve learned so much and can now better assist our foreign employees. I feel I’ve finally found the right place. Previously, we had to ask around for issues related to foreign nationals.”