Home>>China
Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, March 04, 2004

Reform helps ease farmers' tax burden

A total of 7,400 town-level administrations have been abolished or merged over the past five years, as the Chinese Government attempts to alleviate the tax burden on its farmers.


PRINT DISCUSSION CHINESE SEND TO FRIEND


A total of 7,400 town-level administrations have been abolished or merged over the past five years, as the Chinese Government attempts to alleviate the tax burden on its farmers.

The total number of the towns in China has fallen from 464,000 to 390,000 thanks to a campaign conducted in 25 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions since 1998.

Towns are the lowest administrative structure in the country and their redundant institutions and personnel imposed heavy tax burdens on farmers.

It is estimated that 40 percent of farmers' taxes went to overstaffed town-level administrative structures, requiring an average 68 farmers to finance each cadre.

The burden was aggravated by a number of town governments splurging on well-furnished office buildings and the construction of grand plazas.

In the wake of taxation reform, China began to rationalize small towns five years ago.

"Only when the overstaffed small towns were abolished, could thefarmers' tax burdens be lightened," said Chen Xiaohua, director ofthe Policy and Regulations Bureau under the Ministry of Agriculture.

He said about 5,000 staff were cut and 60 million yuan (7.2 million US dollars) saved from 126 abolished or merged towns in northwestern China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.


Questions?Comments? Click here
    Advanced






Campaign launched to promote farm products industry

Chinese agriculture: US' market and rival as well?



 


Japanese media follows changes regarding 3 ' most-wanted' things for Chinese families ( 2 Messages)

It is unexpectedly easy to defeat "China Threat" theory: Japanese economist ( 17 Messages)

Scientific concept of development crucial to China's future growth: Premier ( 4 Messages)

China issues human rights record of the US ( 4 Messages)

China to promote "cocktail weight loss therapy" in response to WHO plan ( 2 Messages)



Copyright by People's Daily Online, all rights reserved