Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the implementation and outcomes of China's water resource tax reform, highlighting its positive effects on water resource management and conservation efforts [3]. Group 1: Implementation and Results - The water resource fee was converted to a tax system across 31 provinces to promote the conservation and efficient use of water resources [3]. - The report indicates a significant increase in law enforcement rigidity, with the number of taxpayers rising from 13,300 to 18,700 in Hebei province and from 44,000 to 91,000 in nine other provinces [5]. - In the first quarter of 2025, the national water resource tax revenue reached 10.4 billion yuan, with a 16.4% increase in revenue from newly included provinces compared to the previous year's average [5]. Group 2: Water Usage Reduction - The reform has led to a 43.1% reduction in excessive water usage by enterprises in ten pilot provinces, decreasing from 650 million tons in 2018 to 370 million tons in 2023 [6]. - Special water usage, such as for golf courses and car washes, also saw a decline of 14.8%, from 6.02 million tons in 2018 to 5.13 million tons in 2023 [6]. - Newly included provinces reported a 15.4% decrease in groundwater usage and a 41.5% decrease in special water usage in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous year's average [6]. Group 3: Tax Structure and Future Plans - The report emphasizes that the water resource tax will not increase the cost of tap water for residents, as the tax is separated from the water price [6]. - The government plans to continue monitoring the reform's implementation and improve policy execution, with future recommendations for amending the resource tax law based on accumulated experiences [9].
国务院首次披露水资源税改革成效,不增加居民基本用水负担
第一财经·2025-09-16 15:23