On November 7, 2010, the Ministry of Finance issued Caizong [2010] No. 98 (“Circular 98”) requiring all provinces or cities to impose the Local Education Surcharge (“LES”) at a flat rate of 2% on the total payment of value-added tax, business tax and consumption tax.
20/01/2012
LES is a separate local surcharge distinguished from City Construction and Maintenance Tax (imposed at 7%, 5% or 1% depending on the location of the taxpayer) and Education Surcharge (imposed at a flat rate of 3%), although they share the same calculation basis based on total turnover taxes paid.
Circular 98 applies to all kinds of companies and individuals including foreign invested companies, foreign companies and foreigners.
Following Circular 98, various provinces or cities start to impose or adjust the LES rate to 2%. We list out below the LES imposing or adjusting dates of some provinces or cities for reference.
| Provinces or Cities | LES implementation date |
| Shanghai | January 1, 2011 |
| Guangdong | January 1, 2011 |
| Jiangsu | February 1, 2011 |
| Tianjin | February 1, 2011 |
| Sichuan | February 1, 2011 |
| Chongqing | May 1, 2011 |
| Beijing | January 1, 2012 |
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