Information continues to trickle in ever-so-slowly on the so-called new social benefits system that China is rolling out for expatriates here. Now, they're saying some -- not all of us! -- will be allowed to retire and to withdraw our pensions here. But who will get it, and who won't? Nobody seems sure. more ›

The latest in the never-ending series of price-hikes/tax-related upsets for the public - a new mooncake tax! Mid-autumn festival is fast approaching, but this year when Beijing employees feast on mooncakes gifted from their employers, there will be a catch! The Beijing authorities have decided to impose a tax on the sweet pastry - which means employees will end coughing up some cash for their "free" treats. Authorities gave no reason for the move, but it is possibly an effort to reduce the insanely wasteful attitude taken towards the cakes. Over half the cost of mooncakes actually goes to the packaging, so if only Chinese could forego all that gaudy, velvet trim (even more tragic when crushed outside in a garbage heap one week later) costs of the cakes could really be much lower. more ›

"THE income tax threshold of 4,800 yuan (US$744) enjoyed by expats in China will remain unchanged when personal tax thresholds are raised. At present the threshold is 2,000 yuan with an extra 2,800 yuan for expats. From September 1, China is raising the threshold to 3,500 yuan but the extra sum for expats is to be cut to 1,300 yuan, leaving them with the same 4,800 yuan benefit." [Shanghai Daily] more ›

A new social insurance law that will apply to foreign employees from July 1 may make it significantly more expensive for companies in China to hire expatriates. more ›

Billionaire Donald Trump continues posturing for his potential 2012 presidential run by talking tough with China. “Nobody, other than OPEC, is ripping off the United States like China,” says Trump. “They’re making all our products, they’re taking all our jobs and then they loan the money back and we pay them interest. It’s an amazing phenomena.” Also, “China is an abuser. China is not our friend.” The solution to this situation, according to Trump, is to stop treating the Chinese president to a "beautiful five star state dinner" when he visits, and to impose a 25% tax on all Chinese products if China doesn't stop "manipulating" its currency. God help us all if this man becomes the president of the US.
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For all of you heading south to Hong Kong to pick up your beloved iPhone 4’s and iPad’s, you’ve been warned. Chinese customs officials have been notified to crackdown on iPhones and iPads by assessing a 20% import duty. more ›

Shanghai Securities newspaper came out with an article that claimed that they had a contact that says that tax authorities are investigating Google China for tax evasion. Moreover, they are not just looking at the company's taxes, but individual income taxes as well — including those of Lee Kai-Fu, Google's man in China, who is rumored to owe more than 5 million RMB in unpaid taxes. The report says that there is a several month grace period during which you can pay back the whole thing, but so far, we don't know if Lee or Google are in any serious trouble. Google spokesman say the whole thing is a fabrication and that they have not received any audit notifications from the tax bureau. more ›