New notice outlines rights of taxpayers

• Source: Global Times
• [02:22 December 03 2009]
• Comments

By Ji Beibei

The State Administration of Taxation releases a notice outlining the rights and obligations of taxpayers but some taxpayers doubt the information is irrelevant because they are still unable to obtain answers to important questions.

Hangzhou-based Qianjiang Evening News reported Wednesday that the notice, issued recently, said taxpayers have 14 rights. At the top of the list is the "right to know." Other rights include supervision and tax concessions.

It also said taxpayers have 10 duties, including registering to pay tax, reporting accurate information and paying taxes on time.

Meanwhile, the administration's interpretation of the rights to know and supervision is different from the public opinion.

The administration's official website said the right to know means that taxpayers could learn about the tax concession policy and tax payment procedures; while the right to supervise means they could check whether tax officers are following the law.

Zhou Weiwei, a resident of Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, said she believes the right to know means officials should disclose how taxes are spent.