Hainan provides help for cross-border taxpayers

The Hainan Provincial Tax Service set up a service center in the lobby of the main venue at the fourth China International Consumer Products Expo to provide international tax and fee guidance for exhibitors and visitors from 71 countries and regions.

Assisting with cross-border commerce, the newly formed Tax Express Hainan Serve cross-border team — consisting of three foreign language specialists and two international tax experts — was on hand throughout the event to provide tax and fee guidance in both Chinese and English.

Coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, the State Taxation Administration established a cross-border service brand in October. The Hainan Provincial Tax Service introduced its own sub-brand a month later.

The initiative underscores the government's commitment to providing customized tax services for international taxpayers, both inbound and outbound.

Throughout the expo, the Tax Express Hainan Serve service team distributed tax policy information related to Hainan Free Trade Port to exhibitors in need.

The Plant-It Food Co of Ireland made its debut as an exhibitor at the expo. Ireland was honored as the guest of honor. Brian McKiernan, the sales and marketing manager, seized the opportunity to engage with the cross-border tax service team in the lobby. He lauded the team members' excellent English and the valuable insights gained during the consultation.

"This is a great opportunity to learn about China's tax policies and the preferential tax policies of the Hainan Free Trade Port," he said.

Upon learning of the Hainan Provincial Tax Service's initiative to create a WeChat group dedicated to addressing policy queries of foreign exhibitors at the expo, McKiernan immediately took out his mobile phone, scanned the QR code and joined the group. He said he would use the group to submit policy-related inquiries and seek detailed responses from the knowledgeable professionals.

Huang Shichang, director of the international tax division of Hainan Provincial Tax Service, underscored the progress achieved since the introduction of the sub-brand Tax Express Hainan Serve. He said the provincial service has implemented an array of practical measures aimed at enhancing support for those needing to pay cross-border taxes and fees. The initiatives include specialized educational sessions, online access to bilingual tax records and statements for non-resident individuals, establishment of Chinese-English bilingual tax service windows in the tax halls of four prefecture-level cities and the creation of a dedicated Tax Express Hainan Serve channel on the official WeChat account of the Hainan Tax Service.

By offering guidance on tax policies pertinent to the free trade port and cross-border investment during the expo, the tax service aims to promote the concept of enterprises venturing overseas and contributing to the province's high-quality inbound and outbound initiatives, the provincial tax service said. This approach is expected to align with the overarching goal of propelling Hainan Free Trade Port to the cutting edge of China's high-level opening-up.