China mulls amendment to Tax Collection and Administration Law

BEIJING, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature on Monday began deliberating a draft amendment to the country's Tax Collection and Administration Law, seeking to further improve tax administration measures and enhance the efficiency of tax administration.

The draft amendment was submitted for its first reading at a session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, which runs through Friday.

The proposed changes would adhere to the principle of coordinating legislation with reform by incorporating effective measures and practices developed through tax administration reforms in recent years into law, while leaving room for further reform.

The draft would adopt a problem-oriented approach by improving tax administration measures, closing institutional loopholes and maintaining order in tax administration, in response to new developments and challenges.

The revision also seeks to take a balanced approach by enhancing the efficiency of tax administration, regulating tax law enforcement, improving taxpayer services and strengthening the protection of taxpayers' lawful rights and interests.

The draft amendment consists of 100 articles in six chapters.

China's current Tax Collection and Administration Law was adopted in 1992 and underwent a major amendment in 2001, with partial amendments in 1995, 2013 and 2015.