China's per capita macro tax burden hits $1,000  

数据显示中国人均宏观税负6338元 北京超过2万元

据中国之声《新闻晚高峰》报道，近日，一则关于全国人均宏观税负水平的调查引发各界关注，数据显示的中国宏观税负达44%，人均宏观税负6338元，北京甚至超过2万元。44%的数据究竟是否符合客观情况？我们缴的税真有这么高吗？[查看全文]

(ECNS) -- A survey showed China's macro tax burden accounted for 44 percent of the country's GDP in the first half of 2014 and that the per capita tax burden came to 6,338 yuan ($1,026.8) nationwide, according to China National Radio (CNR).

Residents in Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin paid the most in terms of the tax burden with 20,347.8 yuan ($3296.3), 19,192.8 yuan ($3109.2), and 17,993.5 yuan ($2914.9) respectively.

A man surnamed Li from Shanghai said about 20,000 yuan in taxes was heavy on him even though he earned over 200,000 yuan annually.

However, Jia Kang, director of the Research Institute for Fiscal Science at the Ministry of Finance, said the average tax burden did not imply that Chinese people suffered a heavy tax burden. What's more, he believes data calculated from half year GDP figures was incorrect.

He Jian, Vice Chairman at the National Statistical Society of China, said Chinese do not suffer a heavy tax burden based on data from the International Monetary Fund, which indicates that China's current ratio is less than 35 percent, an average for developing economies.

Even so, many people via interview have complained they didn't see a great rise in salary, but in tax instead.

Jia said this was due to indirect taxes are China's major tax income, most of it paid by common residents.

He believes it's improper to equate a per capita tax burden with actual taxes paid. "We should learn about China's tax structure before discussing the term."

Statistics from the Ministry of Finance showed individual income tax accounted for only 6.3 percent of overall tax revenue in the first half of this year, whereas corporate income tax made up 25.3 percent.