China Law Insight : China Business and Intellectual Property Lawyers & Attorneys : King & Wood Law Firm : IP, Arbitration, Litigation, Securities, Foreign Investment

1. Transitional tax incentives to enterprises previously enjoying lower tax rates.

As of January 1, 2008, enterprises which enjoyed lower tax rates will be gradually transition to the new tax rate within 5 years after the implementation of the EIT law. Among them, the enterprises which previously enjoyed enterprise income tax rates of 15% shall be transition to tax rate of 18% in 2008, 20% in 2009, 22% in 2010, 24% in 2011 and 25% in 2012. Enterprises which enjoyed the tax rate of 24% previously shall be subject to the tax rate of 25% immediately in 2008.

2. Transitional tax incentives to enterprises previously enjoying fixed term tax exemptions and reductions.

As of January 1, 2008, enterprises which previously enjoyed fixed term enterprise income tax reductions or exemptions may continue to enjoy the same rate for the stated fixed pre-implementation term after the new EIT law takes affect. However, if an enterprise has not yet started to enjoy its period of exemption and reduction because of its failure to make profits to date, its period of exemption and reduction begins in 2008, whether or not it has a cumulative profit.
These transitional policies apply to foreign invested enterprises which were incorporated and registered before March 16, 2007.

If a foreign-invested enterprise enjoyed a fixed term tax exemption and reduction, but changes its business scope after 2008 and as a result, no longer satisfies the conditions as prescribed in previous tax laws and regulations to qualify for the tax holiday, it will then be required to repay the exempted and reduced taxes (including during the transitional period) based on the previous law.

3. Transitional tax incentives to enterprises previously enjoying low tax rates as well as fixed term tax exemptions and reductions

All enterprises that qualified for the enterprise income tax rate of 15% and simultaneously enjoy a 50% reduction for a fixed term may continue to enjoy this arrangement as follows: 50% reduction of 18% for the year 2008 (for a rate of 9%); 10% for the year 2009; 12% for the year 2011 and 12.5% in 2012 .

All enterprises that were previously under enterprise income tax rates of 24% or 33% but enjoying a 50% deduction for a fixed term may pay income tax based on a 50% deduction of the new tax rate of 25% tax rate in and after 2008.

4． Transitional tax incentives to High and New Technology Enterprises (“HNTEs”) established in special economic zones or in the Shanghai Pudong New Development Zone.

All HNTEs which are specially supported by the government, incorporated and registered on and after January 1, 2008 within the special economic zones or in Shanghai Pudong New Development Zone, will enjoy a two year tax exemption for the first two years, and a 50% deduction of the statutory tax rate of 25% for the third to fifth year, calculated from the financial year when the enterprise starts making its first business income within the special economic zone and Shanghai Pudong New Development Zone.

5. Tax incentives for Development in Western China

The special income tax policies for enterprises engaging in Western China development as provided in the “Notice on the Tax Favorable Policies for Western Development” will continue in force after the implementation of EIT.

企业所得税过渡期税收优惠概述

随着内外资企业所得税的统一，新的企业所得税法开始自2008年1月1日起正式生效，原来分别适用于内资企业和外商投资企业的所得税制同时废止。新的企业所得税法使原来的内外资企业在适用税率、优惠政策等方面实现了统一，为内外资企业创造了更加公平的市场环境。为使依原税制享受优惠的内外资企业在新企业所得税法实施后平稳过渡，如将未享受完的定期减免优惠享受完毕，使原适用15%低税率的企业逐步过渡到新企业所得税法规定的25%的税率等，税法对此设置了一个五年的过渡期。这些过渡期优惠政策散见于不同的法律规定之中，下面介绍的是一些已发布的过渡期税收优惠政策。

1、 原适用低税率企业的过渡期税收优惠

自2008年1月1日起，原适用低税率优惠政策的企业，在新税法施行后5年内逐步过渡到法定税率。其中：适用企业所得15%税率的企业，2008年按18%税率执行，2009年按20%税率执行，2010年按22%税率执行，2011年按24%税率执行，2012年按25%税率执行；原执行24%税率的企业，2008年起按25%税率执行。

2、 原享受定期减免优惠的过渡期税收政策

自2008年1月1日起，原享受企业所得税定期减免税优惠的企业，新税法施行后继续按原优惠办法及年限享受至期满为止，但因未获利而尚未享受税收优惠的，其定期减免期限从2008年度起计算。

享受上述优惠的外商投资企业，指在2007年3月16日之前完成登记注册的企业。

享受定期减免税的外商投资企业在2008年后其生产经营业务性质发生变化，导致其不符合原来法律规定的条件的，仍应按照旧法规定补缴其此前（包括在过渡期内）已经享受的定期减免税税款。

3、 原适用低税率并享受定期减免的企业过渡期税收政策

对按照国发[2007]39号文件有关规定适用15％企业所得税率并享受企业所得税定期减半优惠过渡的企业， 2008年按18％税率计算的应纳税额实行减半征税，2009年按20％税率计算的应纳税额实行减半征税，2010年按22％税率计算的应纳税额实行减半征税，2011年按24％税率计算的应纳税额实行减半征税，2012年及以后年度按25％税率计算的应纳税额实行减半征税。

对原适用24％或33％企业所得税率并享受国发[2007]39号文件规定企业所得税定期减半优惠过渡的企业，2008年及以后年度一律按25％税率计算的应纳税额实行减半征税

4、 经济特区和上海浦东新区新设立高新技术企业过渡期税收优惠

对经济特区和上海浦东新区内在2008年1月1日（含）之后完成登记注册的国家需要重点扶持的高新技术企业，在经济特区和上海浦东新区内取得的所得，自取得第一笔生产经营收入所属纳税年度起，第一年至第二年免征企业所得税，第三年至第五年按照25%的法定税率减半征收企业所得税

5、 西部大开发税收优惠政策

《关于西部大开发税收优惠政策问题的通知》中规定的西部大开发企业所得税优惠政策在新税法实施后继续有效
 

Notice 62 offers tax relief on losses caused by the earthquake, which may be offset against taxable gross income and deductions may be taken for the enterprise income tax, individual income tax, house property tax, resource tax, stamp tax, urban land use tax, vehicle and vessel use tax. For donated goods and money, if the donation is made by overseas organizations or individuals, all import taxes and consumption taxes on imported commodities may be exempted. In the case of domestic enterprises donating, then deductions may be taken against the enterprise’s taxable gross income subject to the amount does not exceed 12% of its annual profit. Tax authorities may decide between two options for donations: Individual donations are either fully deductible from one’s individual income tax or for up to 30% of one’s annual taxable income may be deducted. For reconstruction, individuals may deduct the stamp tax on house purchases, property tax for house repairs and individual income tax as against remedy fund payments.


Notice 62 also authorizes local governments at the provincial, autonomous region and municipal level to determine the tax relief period and scope of deduction on a number of taxes, thus enabling local governments in disaster areas to implement their own tax reduction schemes based on local conditions. It is worth noting that all of the mentioned tax relief measures are still within the scope of normal deductions readily provided by current law. Based on the previous experiences in dealing with natural disaster relief and reconstruction, the Ministry of Finance and State Administration of Taxation will also likely implement further special tax relief policies specifically addressing the Wenchuan Earthquake, thereby providing more favourable tax policies such as a higher percentage or full deduction on enterprise income tax for enterprises donating in large amounts; and land value-added tax for those construction enterprises engaged in reconstruction work.
 

税收减免新政策，力援抗震减灾、灾后重建

作者：张宇、王秀娟 ,金杜律师事务所四川分所, 公司组 外商投资部

“5.12”汶川大地震使四川、陕西、甘肃等重灾区省市遭致惨重的人员伤亡及财产损失，为此，国家财政、税务部门专门针对受灾企业、个人及社会捐赠款物等出台了多项灾后税收减免优惠政策，为抗震救灾、灾后重建工作，提供更多的税收支持。其中，尤受瞩目的是2008年5月19日由财政部、国家税务总局紧急发布的《关于认真落实抗震救灾及灾后重建税收政策问题的通知》（财税[2008]62号）（下称“62号通知”），该通知从损失、捐赠、灾后重建等方面给予了受灾地区较大的税收政策支持，涉及的优惠税种包括企业所得税、个人所得税、房产税、资源税、契税、城镇土地使用税、车船税、进口环节税收等。

根据62号通知及中国相关税收法律规定，对于地震灾害带来的损失，可抵扣企业应税所得，减免资源税、房产税、城镇土地使用税、个人所得税、车船税等；对于捐赠的物资和款项，由国外捐赠的可免进口环节的关税、流转税，由国内捐赠的企业可抵减最高不超过年度利润12%的企业应税所得，个人捐赠可依据不同情况获得全额或最高不超过30%应税所得的个人所得税抵扣；对于灾后重建，可减免重新购房的契税、大修房的房产税、抚恤金救济金的个税。

综观62号通知，财政部和国家税务总局将多个税种的具体减免期限和幅度的确定权限下放到省级、自治区、直辖市人民政府，因此，受灾地区地方政府可以根据本地具体受灾情况来制定各税的具体减免实施方案。值得注意的是，上述优惠是在原有法律规定内的一般减免，经过对以往灾后重建经验和此次受灾情况的分析，我们理解，预计财政部和国税总局还会推出针对本次地震灾害的特殊减免，比如：从企业捐赠更高额度乃至全额抵扣企业应税所得、减免参与灾区重建的房地产企业所得税、土地增值税等方面给予更大幅度的税收优惠。