China Personal Income Tax

Hi all, let's talk about the personal Income tax in China for expats like us.

Comparing to Singapore, it is really high!!

The first RMB4800 is non-taxable and there are 9 levels in China income tax:-

Level Monthly Income Tax Rate % Deduction

1) RMB500 or less

Tax Rate 5%

Deduction 0

2) RMB501 to 2000

Tax Rate 10%

Deduction RMB25

3) RMB2001 to 5000

Tax Rate 15%

Deduction RMB125

4) RMB5001 to 20000

Tax Rate 20%

Deduction RMB375

5) RMB20001 to 40000

Tax Rate 25%

Deduction RMB1375

6) RMB40001 to 60000

Tax Rate 30%

Deduction RMB3375

7) RMB60001 to 80000

Tax Rate 35%

Deduction RMB6375

8) RMB80001 to 100000

Tax Rate 40%

Deduction RMB10375

9) RMB100001 above Tax

Rate 45%

Deduction RMB15375

so for example, if my income is RMB18000/month

That is level 4
Tax Rate 20%
Deduction RMB375

This is how i will calculate my taxes:-

RMB18000 - RMB4800 = RMB13200 x 20% = 2640 - 375 = RMB2265

Take for another person income is RMB 65000/month
That is level 7

Tax Rate 35%
Deduction RMB6375

This is how his taxes will be:-

RMB65000 - RMB4800 = RMB60200 x 35% = RMB21070 - 6375 = RMB14695

The above information is correct at the time of publishing

More information can be found at http://de2.mofcom.gov.cn/aarticle/bilateralvisits/200603/20060301721962.html?

The Chinese government has made it easier to calculate your taxes with the below site, just key in your monthly income:-

http://www.xm-l-tax.gov.cn/taxcalculator/psntaxcalc_e.do

Taxes are so high!!

That's all!!

Guangzhou Church

Hi there! How is your weekend coming along?

It is typhoon weekend for me in Guangzhou.
Fortunately, there was only some rain and strong winds here.
Guangzhou is not too much affected, unlike HongKong and other parts of south China.



I just came back from Guangzhou International Christian Fellowship (GICF), a church for expatriates near my home. About 15 mins walk.


Chinese locals are not allowed to enter the church. Please do not be mistaken that we are discriminating the Chinese nationals, but this is required by the law of China.
Freedom of worship is limited in the communist state. One of the church leader was questioned by the local authories when some Chinese locals sneaked into the church.
If the church is caught on the same offence again, their license may be revoked.
I believe this is the same everywhere in China, at least it was the same when I was in Shanghai.

The chinese has their own church which the services are conducted in chinese. I have been to one in Shanghai, very traditonal type.

Therefore, in order to indentify yourself as a foreigner, especially if you are an Asian (yellow skin) like me, please bring along a photo identity card or passport to enter.
To find out more, GICF website:-
http://www.gicf.net/



GICF meets at Star Hotel (next to Guangzhou East Railway Station), 3rd floor, every Sunday from 10am - 11.30am.
Every Sunday, there are about 300-400 adults worship there.
There is Sunday school for children as well, i understand that GICF has about 100++ children every Sunday.
Come join us if you are interested.


The map (Click to enlarge):-












Some pictures of the church:-

Cheap DVD!!

Hey folks!

One of the things that is real cheap here are the DVDs! And for most of us who doesnt have much activities after work, the cheapest form of entertainment will be watching DVDs.

They only cost RMB5 per disc.

Below is one typical store at the road side:-

Remember it is only RMB5 per disc, anything more than that is expensive.

They have hollywood films, HK, Taiwan movies, drama.

Some may even have artistic films, but I think that cost RMB8-10 per disc (hehh..)

Do buy at the store nearest to you, so that in the event that the disc doesnt work, you can go back to the owner to change another disc.

Always emphasis that you want DVD version if you want clear and good disc.

There are some DVDs that they called super clear version "超清晰" those are the ones they record from the cinema. Those are generally very new movies that are still screening.

If you want to watch movies that are still screening, and is unwilling to pay for cinema tickets, those super clear version will be a good alternatives.

By the way, watching cinema movies in China is an expensive entertainment.

Full price of the 1 ticket cost RMB80! They normally have discount during weekday, probably cost about RMB40-60/ticket. This is real expensive! But the cinemas are always very crowded!

That shows how rich the chineses are!

For me, it is DVDs! Look like it is another DVD weekend for me...

take care!!

Cost of Living

Hi all, I hope your week was wonderful!

Let's discuss a little on the cost of living in Guangzhou.
Comparing Guangzhou (GZ) and Shanghai (SH) where I previously worked.
Guangzhou has definitely a lower cost of living.
For example:-

Taxi in GZ: Starting fee RMB7, Taxi in SH: Starting fee RMB11
Addidas Tee(imitation) in GZ: RMB35, similar Addidas Tee in SH: RMB50

However, there are some things that should be the same across the whole China.
Like:-
Mac Value meal: RMB20-25
Starbucks Cappuccino (small): RMB25
A can of Coke: RMB3

There are a few costs to note while you are working here:-

Accomodation cost: RMB3000-5000 (a decent place with facilities)
Mobile Cost: RMB100-200(normal local usage). Calling overseas is not expensive also. For me, I use a cheap idd call 12593 to call back Singapore at only RMB0.39/min
Bus trip: RMB2-4
Metro/Subway/MRT trip: RMB2-11
Lunch box: RMB5-10
A bowl of noodles: RMB5-10
A meal at an average restaurant: RMB50-100

Have a great weekend!

Citic Plaza - Tallest Building in Guangzhou

One of the most famous building in Guangzhou is the Citic Plaza, the tallest building in Guangzhou.

According to wikipedia, it is 80 floors and has a height of 391 m (1,283 ft) which includes two tall antenna-like spires on the top.

Currently, it ranks as the 4th tallest building in China, seventh in Asia, and eighth worldwide.

If you are around Tianhe district, you will never miss it.

Just beside the 80th floor tower, there is a 5 floors shopping centre. This is the place where the office workers from Citic plaza shop.

I personally like the Chinese restaurant, East Ocean Chinese Restaurant at the 3rd floor. Food is above average, price is quite reasonable with good service and ambience. And the toilets are very posh! An eagle head tap.. heheh..

I often have their Dim Sum with some friends during weekends. About RMB150 for 2 pax.

One Nokia road show at the shopping centre:-

Have a great week!!

Metro/Subway In Guangzhou

Being one of the most developed city in China, Guangzhou has it own subway (We call it MRT in Singapore, or some called it Metro).

It covers the whole Guangzhou city, and it is a good way to get around.

The sign for Guangzhou Metro:-

Typically, an entrance to the station look like this:-

You may see the map of the stations both Chinese and English (click on it for bigger pictures):-

Of course you need to buy a ticket in order to travel in the Metro.

The ticket is in a form of a blue chip and cost between RMB2 - 11, depending on the distance of your journey. The ticketing machine look like this:-

Not to worry, the instructions are both in English and Chinese.

If you intend to stay in Guangzhou for an extended period of time, you may want to consider buying a stored value card, which the local call Yang Cheng Tong. This can be used not only at Metro but also taxis and buses. This will be convenient as you need not look for coins/smaller notes to buy tickets.

For more information on Yang Cheng Tong card:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yang_Cheng_Tong

The card will look like this:-

As apply to most cities, avoid peak hours travel like 8-9am or 5-6pm where the metro will be very packed like this:-

Note that the last trian is about 11.30pm. Some pictures of the Metro:-

More information can be found on Guangzhou Metro Official Site:- http://www.gzmtr.com/en/

Take care and have fun!

Let me know what are the things you are interested in and I will blog it in my next entry..