China tax: 2021 major incentives
The Chinese government has released a series of incentives relating to income taxes, value-added taxes, and research and development expenses. Here’s how they could affect your operations.

Value-added tax (VAT) incentives
- The monthly sales revenue threshold has been raised to RMB 150,000 for the small taxpayer VAT exemption. This new policy has no expiration date.
- Small taxpayers with monthly sales exceeding RMB 150,000 but annual sales of less than RMB 5 million pay a 1% VAT rate until December 31, 2021. The VAT rate for small taxpayers will revert to 3% on January 1, 2022.
Corporate income tax (CIT) incentives
- The CIT rate for small and low-profit enterprises has been reduced to 2.5% of taxable income not exceeding RMB 1 million (from 5%). A company is considered a small and low-profit enterprise if:
- Annual taxable income is less than RMB 3 million;
- Total number of employees is less than 300; and
- Total assets are less than RMB 50 million.
- The reduced CIT rate is valid through December 31, 2022.
CIT - R&D-related incentives
- Where R&D costs have been capitalized, taxpayers may expense 200% and 175% of the current-year amortization for manufacturing and non-manufacturing enterprises, respectively.
- When R&D expenditures have been expensed, taxpayers may expense 200% and 175% of the current year’s R&D expense for manufacturing and non-manufacturing enterprises, respectively.
- These policies apply retrospectively to costs incurred starting January 1, 2021. For manufacturing enterprises, the policies never expire. For non-manufacturing enterprises, this incentive is valid through December 31, 2023.
Please contact our China tax team to answer any questions about the updated policies or review options for your organization in China.