Core Viewpoint - Recent rumors regarding the imposition of a "landlord tax" have sparked widespread discussion, but experts clarify that current housing rental tax policies remain unchanged and the rumors stem from a misunderstanding of the upcoming Housing Rental Regulations [1] Tax Policy Overview - The new Housing Rental Regulations, effective from September 15, require landlords and tenants to sign rental contracts under real names and register them with relevant authorities, but do not introduce new tax obligations [1] - Local tax authorities, such as Chengdu's tax department, have confirmed that existing tax policies for rental properties have not changed and that there is no new "landlord tax" [1][3] Current Tax Obligations - Landlords are primarily responsible for two types of taxes: property tax, with a statutory rate of 4% (often reduced to 2% in many areas), and individual income tax, typically at 10% but sometimes assessed at lower rates of 0.5% or 1% [3] - For personal landlords renting properties with monthly rents below 100,000 RMB, value-added tax and stamp duty are exempt [2][3] Market Dynamics - Rental prices are determined by supply and demand rather than tax rates; in a seller's market, landlords may pass on tax costs to tenants, while in a buyer's market, tenants have more negotiating power [4] - Data from the China Index Academy indicates that the average residential rent in 50 cities was 34.93 RMB per square meter in July, showing a slight month-on-month decrease of 0.07% and a year-on-year decrease of 3.81%, suggesting a non-tight rental market [4]

Core Viewpoint - Recent rumors regarding the imposition of a "landlord tax" have sparked widespread discussion, but experts clarify that current tax policies for personal rental housing remain unchanged [1] Group 1: Tax Policies and Regulations - The rumors about the "landlord tax" stem from a misinterpretation of the Housing Rental Regulations effective from September 15, which require landlords and tenants to sign contracts under real names and register them with relevant authorities [1] - Local tax authorities, such as Chengdu's tax department, have confirmed that existing tax policies for rental properties have not been altered and that there is no new "landlord tax" introduced [1] - Personal landlords renting properties with monthly rents below 100,000 RMB are exempt from value-added tax (VAT) and stamp duty [2] Group 2: Tax Burden on Landlords - Landlords primarily pay two types of taxes: property tax at a statutory rate of 4% (often reduced to 2% in many areas) and individual income tax at a rate of 10% (with some areas applying lower rates of 0.5% or 1%) [3] - The actual tax burden on landlords is generally low, with many policies designed to encourage the rental market's growth, allowing for significant exemptions and reductions [3] - In Chengdu, landlords who register their rental agreements on the local platform face a comprehensive tax rate of 0%, while those who do not register are subject to reduced property tax and other exemptions [3] Group 3: Rental Market Dynamics - Rental prices are determined by supply and demand rather than tax rates; in a seller's market, rental prices may rise, potentially passing tax costs onto tenants, while in a buyer's market, tenants have more negotiating power [4] - Data from the China Index Academy indicates that the average residential rent in 50 cities was 34.93 RMB per square meter in July, showing a slight month-over-month decline of 0.07% and a year-over-year decline of 3.81% [4] - The current rental market in most cities does not exhibit tight supply-demand conditions, making it unlikely for landlords to pass on tax burdens to tenants [4]