Over the past 30 years, China has become the most populous country in the world and boasts the world's second-largest economy. Economic liberalization and continued reform make China a great place to...
Read MoreOver the past 30 years, China has become the most populous country in the world and boasts the world's second-largest economy. Economic liberalization and continued reform make China a great place to hire employees and grow your business.
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Over the past 30 years, China has become the most populous country in the world and boasts the world’s second-largest economy. Economic liberalization and continued reform make China a great place to hire employees and grow your business.
Before you can set up your payroll in China, you need to understand all of the country’s taxation rules. China’s progressive income tax ranges from 3% to 45% based on a worker’s income. The corporate tax rate is 25%.
Employers contribute to different benefit schemes in China. The country’s statutory benefits include five insurances plus housing benefits:
As an employer, you must contribute to the housing fund, which operates like a 401(k). While some contribution is mandatory, employees often try to negotiate for more during the hiring phase. Employers typically contribute between 5% and 25% of the employee’s annual salary.
Companies have multiple payroll options in China depending on their needs.
To set up payroll, you first need to create a subsidiary and open bank accounts in the country. All payments must be sent to employees in the local currency — the Chinese yuan.
As mandated by Chinese law, you also need a strong written employment contract that contains information such as social insurance, working hour regulations, and working conditions.
An employment contract — which is required before setting up payroll in China — should outline specific termination terms and employee entitlements, including medical leave, personal days, and maternity leave. In China, employees get up to 12 months of sick leave with full pay if the sickness or accident is work-related. Non-work related injuries range from three months to 24 months of medical leave.
Termination terms vary by the type of contract the employee is in. Fixed-term contracts do not require any notice, but the notice period for other agreement types depends on whether the termination is with or without cause. No notice is required to fire with cause, but terminating an employee without cause requires 30 days’ notice.
Instead of finding the right China payroll option yourself, you can work with Globalization Partners. We handle the stress of setting up payroll by paying your employees and taking the liability off your shoulders and onto ours. Contact us today to learn more.
If you’re ready to grow your business, or you have questions about a specific country, complete the form. One of our experts will be in touch shortly.
