Liu Lijian, chief auditor of the State Administration of Taxation, said at a policy briefing meeting of the State Council Information Office on Monday that a new individual income tax app developed by the administration will be officially launched on Dec 31.

The app will help taxpayers receive additional deductions, after a new rule was introduced over the weekend, Liu said.

Individual taxpayers can now claim deductions for children's education, continuing education, healthcare treatment for serious diseases, mortgage interest, rent and eldercare.

Although paper forms are available, the app, which can be downloaded by scanning a QR code, will make it more convenient for taxpayers to claim the deductions. After registering, people can conveniently fill in digital forms.

The deductions have been introduced after a new threshold of 5,000 yuan ($724) for monthly incomes was introduced in October. The higher threshold for individual income tax and the new tax deductible expenses aim to reduce the burden on taxpayers. The new deductions will come into effect on Jan 1.