BEIJING (Reuters) – China might develop pilot testing of a property tax to Zhejiang province, a former authorities professional was quoted as saying in an official media outlet on Sunday, the newest signal that the nation is shifting nearer to adopting the long-discussed levy.

China launched a pilot property tax programme in Shanghai and Chongqing in 2011, and consultants have previously urged that the pilot testing be broadened to incorporate Shenzhen metropolis and Hainan province, in accordance with state media.

President Xi Jinping on Friday referred to as for progress on a property tax that might assist scale back wealth inequality because the nation strives to attain his purpose of “frequent prosperity” by mid-century.

“China might take into account conducting system improvements to develop the scope of property tax whereas shifting ahead with tax laws as quickly as attainable,” stated Jia Kang, ex-director of the finance ministry-backed Chinese language Academy of Fiscal Sciences, in accordance with China Property Information, which is managed by the housing ministry.

China has mulled introducing a property tax for over a decade however has confronted resistance from stakeholders together with native governments, which depend on income from land gross sales and fear it could erode property values or set off a market sell-off.

Nevertheless, such a tax might assist curb rampant hypothesis within the housing market, which has come below intense world scrutiny as huge developer China Evergrande Group struggles with a debt and liquidity disaster.

Jia urged extending the property tax trial to the rich jap province of Zhejiang.

Actual property costs differ vastly inside China, with costs many occasions larger in tier-one cities comparable to Beijing and Shanghai in contrast with markets in hinterland cities.

“Usually talking, third- and fourth-tier cities wouldn’t be among the many first batch for a property tax trial,” Jia stated, including that any property tax regime ought to adapt to regional circumstances.

China has been gathering property taxes on sure classes of high-end residences in Shanghai and Chongqing for the reason that pilot programme began in these cities in 2011.

In March, the Chinese language authorities stated in its improvement plan for 2021-2025 that it could push for property tax laws over the following 5 years, however there was no point out of such a tax within the nation’s 2021 legislative agenda for the second consecutive yr.

(Reporting by Muyu Xu and Tony Munroe; Enhancing by Ana Nicolaci da Costa)