Core Viewpoint - The current fiscal pressure in China is closely related to previous constructive debt rather than an increase in "welfare" from enterprises and households. Improving expenditure efficiency and optimizing expenditure structure are crucial for sustainable fiscal health, followed by revenue enhancement [1][5]. Summary by Sections Fiscal Revenue and GDP Ratio - Experts have suggested increasing the fiscal revenue-to-GDP ratio, with former Finance Minister Lou Jiwei advocating for this in his 2025 paper on fiscal policy reform [2]. - The fiscal revenue ratio reflects the government's ability to concentrate financial resources from the economy and its macro-control capacity. China's fiscal revenue includes four main accounts: general public budget, government fund budget, state-owned capital operating budget, and social insurance fund budget [3]. Current Fiscal Situation - The macro tax burden in China is currently at 28.2%, with a reasonable target considered to be around 30%. This indicates room for increasing the fiscal revenue ratio [4]. - The decline in fiscal revenue ratio in recent years is attributed to large-scale tax cuts and fee reductions initiated since 2019, with the ratio dropping from 28-29% in 2018 to 26% in 2023 [9]. Historical Context - Since the tax-sharing system reform in 1994, the fiscal revenue ratio has seen fluctuations, peaking during the "Twelfth Five-Year Plan" at 21.4% and declining to an average of 16.7% during the "Fourteenth Five-Year Plan" [7]. - The fiscal revenue ratio has decreased from 35.7% in 2013 to 30.4% in 2022, a decline of 5.3 percentage points, while the average for 11 middle-income countries increased slightly during the same period [10]. Taxation and Revenue Enhancement - Lou Jiwei has indicated that there is potential to raise the value-added tax (VAT) rate, which currently stands at a low 13%, compared to an average of 20% in other countries [14]. - Other revenue sources, such as social security fund income and land transfer income, have limited growth potential, while the personal income tax has structural weaknesses that make reform challenging [14]. Alternative Revenue Strategies - Experts suggest enhancing the state-owned capital operating budget and reducing unfair tax incentives as alternative methods to increase fiscal revenue without raising tax rates [20][21]. - The state-owned capital operating budget, which is currently underutilized, could significantly contribute to fiscal revenue, especially as land finance declines [21]. Efficiency in Fiscal Spending - Improving the efficiency of government spending and investment is essential for maintaining economic vitality and ensuring public service provision [12][23]. - The focus should be on balancing revenue enhancement with expenditure efficiency, rather than solely increasing the fiscal revenue ratio [18].

Group 1: Fiscal Revenue and GDP Ratio - Recent discussions among experts suggest increasing the fiscal revenue as a percentage of GDP, with former Finance Minister Lou Jiwei advocating for this in his 2025 paper [2][3] - The fiscal revenue ratio reflects the government's ability to concentrate financial resources from the economy and its macro-control capacity [3] - Since the 1994 tax-sharing reform, the fiscal revenue ratio has shown a trend of initially increasing and then decreasing, with the ratio dropping from 21.4% during the 12th Five-Year Plan to an average of 16.7% in the first four years of the 14th Five-Year Plan [5][6] Group 2: Tax Burden and Comparison with Other Economies - In 2024, the macro tax burden is reported at 28.2%, indicating room for improvement compared to the generally accepted 30% threshold [3] - China's macro tax burden is lower than 20% when measured by tax revenue as a percentage of GDP, which is below levels seen in OECD countries [4] - The decline in fiscal revenue ratio is linked to large-scale tax cuts implemented since 2019, which reduced the ratio from 28%-29% in 2018 to 26% in 2023 [6][7] Group 3: Need for Fiscal Reform - The 2023 Central Economic Work Conference highlighted the need for a new round of fiscal reform due to the significant decline in fiscal revenue ratios [7][8] - The fiscal revenue ratio for 2023 is noted to be 26%, which is lower than the 30% average for similar income countries and significantly below the 35% average for developed countries [8] - Experts emphasize the importance of improving the efficiency of fiscal spending and optimizing the expenditure structure to ensure fiscal sustainability [4][9] Group 4: Alternative Revenue Sources - Experts suggest that besides increasing tax revenue, other methods to enhance fiscal revenue include expanding the state capital operating budget and reducing unfair tax incentives [14][15] - The state capital operating budget is seen as having significant potential for growth, especially as land finance diminishes [15][17] - The current state capital operating budget revenue is reported at 6783 billion yuan for 2024, with substantial profits from state-owned enterprises indicating room for increased contributions [15][16]

Core Insights - July fiscal data shows significant highlights, with tax revenue growth returning to positive territory and expenditures improving due to increased income [1] - Major tax categories such as corporate income tax, personal income tax, and consumption tax exhibited varying degrees of upward elasticity in July [1] - The improvement in public budget expenditures is directly linked to the recovery in tax revenue, with a focus on social security, employment, and health care [1] Group 1: Public Budget Performance - From January to July, the national general public budget revenue reached 1,358.39 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 0.1%, while expenditures totaled 1,607.37 billion yuan, up 3.4% [2] - In July, general public budget revenue increased by 2.7%, marking the highest growth rate of the year, with tax revenue rising by 5.0% [4] - General public budget expenditures improved by 3.0% in July, driven by the increase in revenue, indicating a potential for accelerated spending despite revenue constraints [4] Group 2: Tax Revenue Structure - The second-largest tax category, corporate income tax, saw a growth rate of 6.4%, an increase of 3.6 percentage points [8] - Personal income tax experienced a significant growth of 13.9%, up 7.2 percentage points, attributed to increased cumulative income and stricter tax collection measures [9] - Consumption tax recorded a growth of 5.4%, rebounding by 3.4 percentage points, primarily driven by improvements in sales of tobacco and alcohol [10] Group 3: Government Fund Budget - National government fund budget revenue reached 23.12 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 0.7%, while expenditures rose to 54.29 billion yuan, up 31.7% [3] - In July, government fund revenue growth slowed to 8.9%, significantly impacted by declining land transfer income [5] - Land transfer income increased by 7.2%, but the growth rate fell by approximately 15 percentage points, indicating ongoing weakness in the land and real estate market [13] Group 4: Fiscal Expenditure Trends - Fiscal expenditure showed broad support across various sectors, particularly in social security and health care, which grew by 13.1% and 14.2%, respectively [16] - Technology-related expenditures decreased by 30.5%, reflecting a shift in policy direction and a reduction in redundant construction projects [16] - The overall trend indicates a focus on essential social needs rather than unnecessary infrastructure spending [1][16]

Core Insights - The Ministry of Finance reported that from January to July, the national general public budget revenue reached 13.58 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 0.1%, marking the first positive growth in revenue for the year [1] - Tax revenue totaled 11.09 trillion yuan, a slight decline of 0.3% year-on-year, while non-tax revenue increased by 2% to 2.49 trillion yuan [1] - The recovery in fiscal revenue growth in July was attributed to improved corporate profit expectations and the wealth effect from the rising Shanghai Composite Index [1] Tax Revenue Breakdown - Domestic value-added tax revenue was approximately 4.26 trillion yuan, up 3% year-on-year, indicating stable growth in industrial and service sectors [2] - Corporate income tax revenue was about 3.06 trillion yuan, down 0.4%, reflecting pressure on corporate profits [2] - Import goods value-added tax and consumption tax totaled 1.03 trillion yuan, down 6.1%, consistent with weak import trends [2] - Personal income tax revenue reached 927.9 billion yuan, up 8.8%, supported by stable growth in resident income and improved tax administration [2] - Securities transaction stamp duty revenue was 936 billion yuan, up 62.5%, indicating active capital market trading [2] Monthly Trends - From April onwards, monthly tax revenue has shown continuous positive growth for four consecutive months, with July seeing a significant increase of 5% [2][4] - The cumulative decline in tax revenue narrowed significantly, with a reduction of 0.3% for the first seven months compared to a 1.2% decline in the first half of the year [4] Sector Performance - Key sectors such as equipment manufacturing and modern services showed strong tax revenue performance, with notable increases in specific industries like railway and aerospace equipment [5] - The overall tax revenue performance is expected to improve in the second half of the year, driven by stable economic conditions and active capital markets [6] Government Expenditure - From January to July, national general public budget expenditure reached 16.07 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 3.4%, with significant growth in social security, education, and health expenditures [9] - The issuance of government bonds has accelerated, contributing to a stronger fiscal expenditure environment [9] - The broad fiscal expenditure, combining general public budget and government fund expenditures, grew by 8.9% year-on-year, marking a strong performance [10]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of boosting consumption as a primary task for expanding domestic demand, highlighting the need for reform in the current tax system to incentivize local governments to promote consumption effectively [2][3][4]. Group 1: Current Challenges - Local governments face significant financial constraints due to accumulated debt and a downturn in the real estate market, which hampers their enthusiasm for promoting consumption [3][4]. - The existing value-added tax (VAT) and consumption tax systems primarily based on the production location create a misalignment between tax revenue and consumption potential, limiting the release of consumption capacity [2][7]. Group 2: Tax Revenue Structure - In 2024, China's total tax revenue is projected to be 17.5 trillion yuan, with VAT contributing 6.67 trillion yuan (38%) and consumption tax contributing 1.65 trillion yuan (9%) [4]. - VAT is the largest contributor to local tax revenue, shared equally between central and local governments, while the consumption tax is expected to become a new source of incremental revenue for local governments as reforms progress [4][5]. Group 3: Recommendations for Reform - The article suggests reforming the VAT distribution mechanism to focus more on the consumption location, enhancing the precision of transfer payments to local governments [5][12]. - It advocates for accelerating the shift of consumption tax collection to the retail stage, promoting the development of emerging consumption sectors such as green, smart, and health-related industries [5][12]. Group 4: International Experience - The article draws lessons from international practices, particularly the EU's shift from a production-based to a consumption-based VAT system, which was driven by the need for a unified market and the evolution of cross-border trade [10][11]. - The U.S. sales tax system, which relies on state-level taxation and does not have a unified VAT, provides insights into how differentiated tax rates can guide consumer behavior and link tax revenues to public services [13][14]. Group 5: Enhancing Local Government Incentives - To improve local government incentives for promoting consumption, the article recommends optimizing the VAT distribution mechanism to ensure more accurate compensation for consumption areas [16][17]. - It also suggests adjusting consumption tax rates to encourage healthy and environmentally friendly consumption, while considering transitional measures to balance local interests during the reform process [17][18].

Group 1 - The core viewpoint emphasizes the importance of boosting consumption as a key strategy for expanding domestic demand, with the government prioritizing this in its work report [1] - Local governments face significant financial constraints due to accumulated debt and a downturn in the real estate market, which complicates the implementation of consumption-boosting policies [1][4] - A recommendation is made to establish a positive incentive mechanism for local governments to promote consumption, aligning with the new stage of economic development in China [1][4] Group 2 - The structure of tax revenue in China shows that VAT, corporate income tax, consumption tax, and personal income tax are the top four tax types, with VAT contributing the most to local tax revenue [2] - The proposal suggests focusing on VAT and consumption tax reforms to stimulate consumption, with specific recommendations for improving the distribution of VAT to favor consumption areas [2][17] - International experiences, particularly from the EU, highlight the transition from production-based to consumption-based tax systems, which could inform China's VAT reform [8][10] Group 3 - The current VAT distribution mechanism in China is criticized for not compensating consumption areas directly, leading to inefficiencies and a lack of incentive for local governments to foster consumption [6][5] - The need for a more scientific and reasonable compensation mechanism is emphasized to align local government incentives with consumption contributions [6][17] - Recommendations include optimizing the VAT distribution mechanism and improving the consumption tax rate structure to enhance consumption [17][19] Group 4 - The U.S. sales tax system provides insights for China's consumption tax reform, particularly in using differentiated tax rates to guide consumer behavior and linking tax revenues to public services [11][15] - The suggestion is made to establish a consumption tax income adjustment system during the transition period to balance regional tax revenue distribution [18] - The importance of improving the consumption statistics system is highlighted to support tax reforms and enhance data infrastructure for a unified market [20]

Group 1: Tax System Reform and Economic Impact - The VAT has become the largest tax type in China, maintaining a stable share of 35-40% since 2016, with a compound growth rate of -7.4% in 2022, 4.5% in 2023, and 17.0% in 2024, indicating a significant acceleration in growth[3] - In 2024, VAT revenue accounted for 49.5% of local fiscal revenue, the highest in history, reflecting the declining support of land finance for local governments[3] - The average share of VAT revenue in local fiscal income from 2016 to 2022 was 45.3%, increasing to over 49% from 2023, coinciding with a period of negative domestic price levels[3] Group 2: Price Control and Market Dynamics - The current fiscal and tax system may create unreasonable incentives for local governments to stimulate production, which could hinder the establishment of a unified national market[3] - Shifting the consumption tax collection point from production to sales could enhance local governments' focus on consumption, as local sales would directly impact their tax revenue[3] - Optimizing the fiscal and tax system can reduce local governments' supply impulses and increase their emphasis on consumption, potentially alleviating price pressures from both supply and demand sides[3] Group 3: Risks and Challenges - Risks include geopolitical tensions, domestic policy implementation falling short of expectations, and potential global recession alongside unexpected monetary policies from major economies[3]

Core Viewpoint - The narrowing decline in tax revenue indicates a stabilizing Chinese economy, but the divergence between GDP and tax revenue continues to widen, with a projected gap of -8.4% in 2024 and -8.9% in Q1 2025 without significant tax cuts [1][2]. Tax Revenue Trends - In the first five months of 2025, national tax revenue reached 79,156 billion yuan, a decline of 1.6%, with the drop narrowing by 0.5 percentage points compared to the previous months [2]. - Different tax categories showed varied performance: domestic VAT, consumption tax, and personal income tax increased year-on-year, while import VAT, tariffs, and corporate income tax decreased [2]. Economic Factors Influencing Tax Revenue - The divergence between tax revenue and GDP growth is attributed to multiple factors, including macroeconomic price influences and structural industry changes [3]. - The GDP data reflects real growth excluding price effects, while tax revenue includes price changes, leading to discrepancies, especially in a low inflation environment [5]. PPI Impact - The Producer Price Index (PPI) has a significant effect on tax revenue, with a negative PPI contributing to lower nominal GDP growth and affecting tax bases for VAT and corporate income tax [7][9]. - In May, PPI fell by 0.4% month-on-month and 3.3% year-on-year, impacting tax revenue from value-added and corporate income taxes due to lower product prices [9][10]. Corporate Income Tax Trends - Corporate income tax revenue declined by 2.5% year-on-year in the first five months of 2025, with a projected annual decrease of 0.5% for 2024, primarily due to shrinking corporate profits [11]. - Factors contributing to profit contraction include PPI pressure, slowing demand, and the impact of tax incentives on taxable profits [12][13]. Structural Changes in Industries - Tax revenue is highly concentrated in a few industries, such as manufacturing and real estate, which are currently undergoing adjustments, affecting overall tax contributions [15]. - The transition from traditional fuel vehicles to electric vehicles is altering the tax base, as many new energy vehicle companies are not yet profitable, leading to reduced corporate income tax contributions [15]. Personal Income Tax Recovery - Personal income tax revenue increased by 8.2% year-on-year in the first five months of 2025, driven by economic recovery, improved tax administration, and increased income from financial market activities [18][19]. - The growth in personal income tax is supported by the rebound in service industries and contributions from flexible employment and emerging professions [19].

Core Viewpoint - Japan's national general accounting tax revenue for the fiscal year 2024 is projected to be 75.232 trillion yen, marking a 4% increase from the previous year and setting a record high for five consecutive years [1] Group 1: Tax Revenue Breakdown - Corporate tax revenue is expected to reach 17.9101 trillion yen, the highest level since the bubble economy period, indicating significant corporate performance growth [1] - The increase in overall tax revenue is primarily driven by corporate tax, which has risen by 13% compared to the previous year, reaching levels not seen since the 1990 fiscal year [1] - Consumption tax has also increased by 8%, totaling 25.0212 trillion yen, reflecting strong domestic consumption and inflationary pressures [1]

Tax Obligations - Individual businesses are required to declare and pay taxes, including value-added tax, urban maintenance and construction tax, personal income tax, education fee surcharge, and local education fee surcharge. Additional taxes may apply based on the industry and business scope [2] Tax Incentives - From January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2027, small-scale taxpayers with monthly sales not exceeding 100,000 yuan (quarterly sales not exceeding 300,000 yuan) are exempt from value-added tax [3] - Small-scale taxpayers subject to a 3% tax rate can have their taxable sales income taxed at a reduced rate of 1% during the same period [3] - Individual businesses with annual taxable income not exceeding 2 million yuan will have their personal income tax halved from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2027 [3]