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Jun Wang is a
new entry this year
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Jun Wang, director of China's State Administration of Taxation
(SAT), has the near-impossible job of collecting tax from 1.36
billion citizens and implementing tax policy in the world's
most rapidly changing economy. Colleagues call him "important",
"influential" and "ambitious" and his efforts to end tax
evasion in the vast country have earned him attention from
international media.
Despite the immense challenges of his mandate, he has worked
closely with finance and economic teams to fast-track China's
development into a modern economy, firmly securing himself a
position as one of the most influential people in tax.
Wang began his political career in the Ministry of Finance,
where he worked for nearly a decade as vice minister of finance
before being appointed in his current role as Commissioner in
2013. He was key in introducing the corporate income tax law in
2008, which borrowed from the US model but simplified its
contents down to an enviable 30-40 pages.
In January of 2014, Wang was the first SAT administrator to
ever represent
China as a member of the Foreign Trade Association Steering
Committee. He signed China up to the OECD's Multilateral
Convention on Mutual Administration Assistance in Tax Matters.
He has represented China and developing countries at the
G20 meetings in Brisbane and pledged
China's commitment to enforcing the BEPS project
deliverables.
Wang has also emphasised that Chinese taxation must adapt to
better assist Chinese companies going global. He also
emphasises the importance of fostering relationships between
taxpayers and tax administrators as part of the Communist Party
of China's 'Mass Line' campaign which aims to improve
communication between officials and citizens.
"Learning from others proves beneficial," Wang stressed at
an international meeting earlier this year.
His most ambitious initiative has been the launching of two
campaigns. The first and best known is
the tax modernisation campaign, which his office says will
bring China's system into line with the most advanced in the
world by 2020.
Wang's second campaign, translated literally as the 'Spring
Breeze Campaign for More Convenient Taxation Services' is one
that aims to help taxpayers. Through Spring Breeze, Wang aims
to improve taxpayer services and collection to increase
taxpayer compliance.
The SAT pinpoints economic growth as China's most important
mandate, and tax will play a crucial part as the country's
growth slows.
Though Wang has pushed China's tax development forward in
2014, he still faces many daunting challenges, principal among
which is developing China into a modern fiscal system by 2020.
Tax modernisation is high on his agenda for 2015.
Colleagues have no doubt in his abilities.
A biography from his team reads: "While Mr. Wang's
commitment and contributions to tax reform and modernisation
are a manifestation of his love for his country, the many
responsive and responsible actions he takes are having, and
will continue to have, tangible impact on his country and
across the tax world."