REALWorld Law

Sale and purchase

Taxation of asset deals

Which taxes are relevant/which transaction costs will be incurred when buying real estate as an asset (asset deal) and how are the transaction costs shared between the buyer and seller?

China

China

The following taxes will be incurred in asset deals:

  • Value-Added Tax – China has gone through tax reform to replace Business Tax with Value-added Tax (VAT) and it has applied to real estate industry and construction industry starting from 1 May, 2016. After such tax reform, sales of real estate should be subject to VAT at 9% under the general rules. Such VAT costs will be added on top of the purchase price and finally borne by the purchaser of such real estate property. The purchaser may use such input VAT (supported by valid VAT invoices) to offset its output VAT payable on its income generated from business operations. The tax reform program also offers transitional rules, under which the seller of real estate properties may opt for a simplified tax method if the real estate property was acquired before 30 April 2016, ie apply a reduced VAT rate of 5% on sale of real properties without claiming input VAT credit. If the seller of the real estate properties choose for such simplified method, the purchaser’s VAT costs will be reduced to 5% on the purchase price, but such 5% VAT will not be deductible against the purchaser’s output VAT on its business income.
  • Deed Tax – Deed Tax is levied and payable by the buyer of real property on the transfer of real property or land use rights. The rate ranges from 3 to 5% (depending on the location) of the total purchase price of the property or land use rights.
  • Land Value Appreciation Tax – Potentially, the most expensive tax is Land Value Appreciation Tax (LVAT), which is imposed on the seller on taxable gains derived from the transfer of real property. The rate of LVAT is set on a progressive scale ranging from 30% to 60% depending on the amount by which the sale proceeds exceed certain prescribed deductions. These prescribed deductions include, the cost of acquiring land use rights, developing the land and construction, as well as the value of any existing buildings and any taxes paid in relation to the land or property.
  • Stamp Duty –Stamp Duty (SD) is levied on certain dutiable documents executed or used in China, including property transfer documents. SD is calculated at a fixed rate according to the contract amounts. For transfers of property, SD is 0.05% of the contract value, and is levied on both the buyer and the seller.
  • Enterprise Income Tax – The rate is 25% of net profit (consolidated with the enterprise’s annual profit) payable by the seller of the real estate. Foreign enterprises not maintaining establishments in China are taxable on their income and gain on a gross withholding basis at the rate of 10%.

Last modified 22 Mar 2024