The increasing size and sophistication of China’s digital economy, as well as the rapid expansion of Chinese digital economy enterprises into foreign markets, is highlighting a range of complex tax issues, and the importance of policymaker efforts to resolve them. Khoon Ming Ho, Conrad Turley, Sunny Leung, and Mimi Wang explore the issues.

Following years of rapid change to China’s cross-border corporate income tax (CIT) rules and advances in enforcement effectiveness, a more measured approach has recently emerged, reflecting business environment changes and China’s evolved position within the global economy. Chris Xing, Conrad Turley, Grace Xie, and William Zhang, trace the latest trends.

Hong Kong has seen substantial changes to its tax landscape in 2018. Curtis Ng, Michael Olesnicky, John Timpany and Ivor Morris discuss Hong Kong’s tax changes for transfer pricing (TP) and research and development (R&D) aimed at enhancing Hong Kong’s competitiveness and driving its economic growth.

In recent months, the trade issues between China and the US have continued to escalate. So far, the US has imposed 10% tariffs on $250 billion out of the more than $500 billion of China exports to the US, and China has responded with tariffs on $110 billion out of $130 billion US exports to China.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor delivered her second policy address on October 10 2018, which sets out the Hong Kong government’s policies over the coming years.

At an executive meeting of China's State Council on July 23 2018, Premier Li Keqiang announced that the country would expand the scope of the 75% corporate income tax (CIT) super deduction for eligible research and development (R&D) expenses to cover all resident enterprises. This super deduction rate currently applies to defined science and technology-related small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), while other enterprises can obtain a 50% super deduction. The announced changes will abolish the 50% super deduction incentive. The details of the expanded incentive are still pending, and it remains to be seen whether the increased super deduction rate can be applied retroactively and whether the scope of deductible expenses will be expanded further. This improvement to the super deduction follows the enhancement of the incentive in June's Cai Shui (Circular) 64, to cover R&D work outsourced by Chinese enterprises to foreign providers.