Beijing News: The consumption tax reform should be aimed at fairer
distribution of social resources.
The main target of the latest adjustments on consumption tax is to guide
consumption, adjust income distribution, and promote protection of environment
and resources.
It is important to adjust income distribution. The State should build proper
systems to improve the welfare of all members of society. Taxation is a major
system to realize the aim. It is an economic issue as well as a political one.
There are some problems existing in the current consumption tax system, which
was introduced in 1994. The regime of taxation is narrow. Some then-luxury goods
are widely consumed by today's public. The tax rates of some items should be
adjusted according to the changes of domestic industrial structures, consumption
levels and structures. The functions of promoting resources saving and
environmental protection should be enhanced.
To adjust income redistribution through taxation shows the government's
orientation of values as well as the public's interests. The government's
human-centred concept of administration should also be realized through the
function of redistribution.
To optimize distribution of resources is a major aim of this reform too. The
State's industrial policy to develop eco-friendly, resource-efficient
enterprises with high added value can also be improved through taxation
leverage. The adjustment of tax rates demonstrates the government's
determination to solve the current socio-economic problems.
It is expected that taxation can play a vital role in the country's
macro-economic management.
Yanzhao Metropolis Daily: The adjustments on consumption tax items and rates
conform to the current socio-economic situation in our country. But from the
legal perspective, it is still unfortunate that administrative departments like
the Ministry of Finance and State Administration of Taxation decide tax
adjustment policies.
Legislative power belongs to the legislature. Taxation is an issue of
citizens' property rights. An adjustment on taxation is the redistribution of
citizens' interests and obligations. The necessary procedures according to the
modern democratic system should be: people's representatives express their ideas
and suggestions to the legislature for discussion and review to reach a
consensus and form a legal document. A taxation arrangement attained through
such a process is democratic and lawful.
The slowness in taxation legislation is a huge regret.
Consumption tax is closely connected with public interests. But the legal
basis of its collection is only a provisional regulation issued by the State
Council in 1993. It is just an administrative regulation, which is below laws
made by the National People's Congress (NPC) and its standing committee.
The provisional regulation has not been revised or upgraded in the past 13
years. The adjustments of consumption taxation this time were not made by the
State Council, but by the MOF and SAT.
To adjust public interests without widely soliciting public opinions, no
matter how fair or just it is, is regrettable.
It is essential to upgrade taxation legislation to build
a democratic society ruled by law.
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