Bring up the topic of taxes and you’ll hear a collective groan. Not because people disapprove of the institution per se, but it’s inevitably a headache that takes a lot of time in our winter or spring schedule. Add the extra layer of being an expat, and you’ve got yourself what we here at Jingkids like to call a poop show. For most years in your home country, you can assume a certain level of responsibility and understanding of what your tax return or what you owe will be based on past experiences. Moving to a new country might bring with it a whole lot of loopholes never before imagined, and certainly more paperwork.

In the case of the IIT (Individual Income Tax) for working in the People’s Republic of China, however, it’s more legwork and app work than paperwork.

First things first. You need to register with the Tax Office. I went to this one, the office closest to the office: 朝阳区税务局第四税务所 . This is what I typed into DiDi and it dropped me off right there in front. They’re open Mon-Fri 9am-12pm, and 2-5pm.

People try to hand you cards before the entrance, but I didn’t stop to see what they’re selling.

Go to the right place. Or rather, the left place. Walk through the gate pictured above and into the building on the right. Once you go through security, scan your Health Kit, and receive your very own pair of disposable plastic gloves, turn left and find a line.

Follow the feet and mind your social distancing.

Don’t make the same mistake I did. This is just the line to get your number to go wait in another line. Show them this screenshot and message: 我需要注册码来注册我的个人所得税APP, loosely translated to “I need the registration code to register my personal income tax app.”

Take your number and wait to be called. here’s where to look for your number. You’ll get a number with an extra “0” in it, but rest assured, when you see your number minus the zero, it is your time. Walk past this sign, show your number to the nice guard, and proceed to your station.

Know your company name in Chinese and your name in the tax system. The order and correct spacing/capitalization of your name (typically last name, first name, middle name – but not always) must match all records, including your bank account. Just to be extra sure, check with your bank before you go to the tax office.

Once your number is called, the staff there will guide you through each step to register. We had no issues with the process, especially if the app is already installed; but you’ll need to have handy:

1. Name as it appears on your bank account and employment records (always input your name in all caps, which is made a little harder by the safety gloves.)
2. Passport
3. Phone number
4. Your address in Chinese
5. How many days you lived in China for the last year and the year before.
6. Your bank card number

The trickiest part was that you need to create a password, and it must have at least one capital letter, a small letter, and a special character. This was only tricky because the instructions were hard for the staff to understand since the Roman alphabet requirements don’t translate exactly right. But we had a good laugh about it.

Then the staff will show you how much of a refund you will get, and take you through the steps of inputting your bank account information. After that, you’re done and should receive your refund directly in your account.

Keep the document they print for you, as it has a code you may need in the future. And take yourself out for a post-tax return treat!

KEEP READING: WATCH | Follow Our WeChat Channel for More Videos

Images: Cindy Marie Jenkins, Unsplash

Whether you’ve been offered an employment (Z) visa in order to work in China, are coming here as a student (X visa), or will be joining your spouse (S visa), as a foreigner you’re going to need to get a clean bill of health before you’ll be granted your residency permit.

If you’re in need of a health check in order to update your residence permit, there are a couple of things you should take note of – but not to worry, as the process has become more convenient, not less.

First and foremost, the location of the International Travel Healthcare Center moved back in April 2019, so it may not be the same place you remember. No longer is it way out in the suburbs, but right in the heart of the city, just north of Ditan Park, at 20 Hepingli North Road, Dongcheng District (6427 4239) 东城区和平里北街20号办理.

Second, you can now book your appointment through a WeChat mini-app, eliminating the need to make the trip to the health center just to register two weeks ahead of time.

Things to know

• There is currently only one facility in Beijing where you can get a visa requirement health check.
• You cannot do this examination at a hospital, your private clinic, or anywhere else in Beijing.
• The center is only open 8.30-11.30am.
• The center is busiest in August and just after Chinese New Year. In general, we suggest getting there as close to opening time as possible.
• Most of the staff at the centers speak basic English and are used to dealing with foreigners.

We’ve written a detailed step-by-step guide that explains how to prepare for your health check, how to get there, and what to expect during. Click here to read it.

Images: Unsplash, the Beijinger, Anna Pellegrin Hartley, betminded.com

It has become common-place for Chinese entrepreneurs to start, or take over, businesses all across the world. Folks like Jack Ma, who took advantage of the dot com boom in the 90s and early 00s, are household names as Chinese brands now translate to global success. Ultimately, it is accepted that this success is due to the Chinese government’s support for Chinese-born entrepreneurs, who are further bolstered by policies which encourage global growth.

Whereas China’s entrepreneurial dreams of conquering the world seem anything but daunting, those of outsiders trying to infiltrate the Chinese market prove an uphill climb. Many a foreign investor and entrepreneur have decried the rather uncertain conditions with which one has to contend when starting a business in China. Though many Western behemoths such as Starbucks, Nike, and other high-end brands have successfully set up camp in the heart of Chinese commerce, it suggests that success only comes to large, established companies.

Not so says Hannah Ryder, a British-Kenyan entrepreneur based in Beijing. Her consultancy company, Development Reimagined, is one of many companies not only started but fully owned by African-born entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, what often stops people like Ryder from opening up businesses is the now-defunct policy that required foreigners to have a Chinese partner in order to set up shop.

“Not many Africans know that you can set up a wholly-owned foreign enterprise in China without any Chinese partnership,” explains Ryder. “People still think that China has the rules of 2001, which dictated that you had to have at least 50 percent of any business under Chinese ownership.”

Development Reimagined was created with the intention of thinking of development in new and innovative ways. “My personal feeling is the developing world continues to be stuck in the sense that aid is really important, and there’s a need for humanitarian disasters to be tackled here and there, but people are still not coming out of poverty.”

After growing up in Nairobi for the first ten years of her life, Ryder’s parents move her and the rest of the family to the UK for the sake of their education. That is where she did her high school and university level studies, before becoming a civil servant with the British government, working in environmental ethiculture and environmental issues, as well as international development.

Like most Kenyans, Ryder was exposed to the stark contrasts of wealth and social mobility between the UK versus her country. Recounting trips to visit her grandparents in Narumoru, a town at the foot of Mount Kenya, she remembers encountering bad roads, lack of electricity, and no running water. As such, Kenya is a sort of poster child for countries with great developmental potential, but a citizenry stuck in the revolving door of aid and poverty, never fully able to escape the trap.

As a consultancy business, Development Reimagined searches for new ideas on how to escape that poverty trap, and help organizations across the globe strategize, evaluate, and design new programs and solutions.

“The reason why we are in China is because China is the country that has been most successful in eradicating poverty over the last 40 or so years, and it’s important to learn from that and to understand what that process is, bringing that understanding to other tools such as aid,” Ryder explains.

Similarly, unlike most countries that try to eradicate poverty by way of aid, China has done so through a whole range of transformational policy structures. According to Ryder, “That is one of our top values, that aid isn’t the only answer to development.”

But like most entrepreneurs looking to open a start-up in the Chinese market, she was in a bit of a bind. Yes, there was a need for the services she was looking to provide, but how did one go about setting up a business when it was not a Fortune 500 company?

“Whatever people think about entering and setting up a business in China, until you do it you have zero idea of what that really means and its challenges,” says Ryder, adding that finding the right agent to help her set up her business was quite a hurdle, in and of itself.

Other steps were a bit easier though. For instance, in order to obtain a registered commercial address, Ryder relied on a new global trend in which companies utilize coworking spaces.

Thankfully, according to Ryder, when it comes to acquiring a work permit and necessary documentation to start your business, Chinese bureaucracy does not discriminate. However, she notes that while trying to make conversions for student visas to internships, or inviting people over for business and conferences from Africa, her company seems to be at a disadvantage.

“When there are issues, for example, some new legislation that’s going to affect African business operations here, we have no one who is able to advocate on our behalf, or lobby government on our behalf, which is a normal function of business across the world – to be able to lobby government,” laments Ryder.

One might think this means a grim future for Sino-African relations, or African businesses established in China. However, Ryder again says this is not the case. All businesses, and indeed business owners, are treated equally under Chinese regulations.

Aside from her role in Beijing’s professional scene, Ryder is also the founder of Safari Time, a community initiative that introduces young children to songs from all around the world and encourages learning through nursery rhymes.

“I started [Safari Time] just because I saw that nobody else was doing it, and I had known that in the UK, if you go to the public library, they have these things for free that people can just drop into, very flexible,” explains Ryder.

Safari Time got its humble beginnings at the now-closed Bookworm, and though its initial home is shuttered, the group still regularly meets, much to the delight of the attendant expat families who are happy to have a point of engagement with other families and help their children experience a multi-cultural upbringing to the full.

Needless to say, it is clear that nothing will soon slow down this loving mom, wife, and entrepreneur, as she not only helps stimulate the young minds of Beijing but also growing businesses and business policies around the world.

KEEP READING: Entrepreneur Ashley Soh on Managing Her Time with Singapore-Based Kids

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 March – April issue

Arrests and deportation of foreign teachers in China are reportedly on the rise as regulators are cracking down on visa violations and tightening business compliance laws. Law firms report that cases involving foreign teachers have increased rapidly, as much as ten-fold according to some reports, over the past six months. Accompanying this increase in scrutiny are significant upticks in detention for other petty crimes involving foreigners (including public indecency and minor drug violations).

In order to avoid such a bleak fate, here is everything you need to know about legally working in China.

You can not legally work unless you are on a work visa

It is illegal for your employer to ask you to come to China on a tourist visa or business visa for long-term work. Before you leave your country of origin, you must apply for a temporary work permit that allows you to enter the country for employment. This will then be transitioned into a residency permit by your company once you are in China.

Basic required documents for applying for a work visa

• Proof of two years of work experience in a similar given field. Therefore, ask for reference letters from former employers with 1) your job title (try to match it and the description as closely as possible to your new position); 2) duration of employment; 3) employer signature
• Authenticated Bachelor’s degree, meaning that it was stamped by a public notary
• Criminal background check
• Medical clearance

READ: How to Get a Visa and Residency Permit Health Check in Beijing

Be aware of industry-specific requirements

Most reputable teaching jobs in China will additionally require:

1. Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
2. Professional qualification (PGCE for UK applicants or TEFL)
3. Two years of work experience
4. A one year contract
5. Minimum age requirement of 24 or older

Be wary of salary/fee issues

While it may be normal to ask new hires to pay part or all of a visa agent’s fee, you should not be asked to make large, upfront payments. If communication is vague, your employer asks for large amounts of money or personal information, it may be a scam. In addition, you should not be asked to work for months without payment (even if you are in a “probation” period, you are legally entitled to compensation). If you see any of these red flags, it may be time to seek other employment opportunities.

Contracts

First off, you should see, review, and sign a contract. While this may seem like an obvious detail, it can be easy to be convinced to start work without seeing these details on paper. In addition, look for clear details in your contract about what happens should you leave your position prior to the end of your contract. Understanding your rights and responsibilities should you need to make a quick exit will save you trouble in the event of unexpected difficulties.

Good luck and happy job hunting!

READ: Government Streamlines Visa Applications for Foreign Talent in China

Image: stuff.co.nz

Whether you’ve been offered an employment (Z) visa in order to work in China, are coming here as a student (X visa), or will be joining your spouse (S visa), as a foreigner you’re going to need to get a clean bill of health before you’ll be granted your residency permit.

As with everything in China, getting the official document that proves that you are fit and healthy involves a fair bit of admin and jumping through hoops-you-didn’t-even-know-existed, but if you go prepared, navigating the ‘Medical Examination for Residence Permit for Foreigners’ can be one of the easier challenges that first faces you in Beijing.

For up to date information, visit the official Beijing International Travel Healthcare Center (北京国际旅行卫生保健中心) website here (in Chinese).

Things to know

• There is currently only one facility in Beijing where you can get a visa requirement health check.
• You cannot do this examination at a hospital, your private clinic, or anywhere else in Beijing.
• The center is only open 8.30-11.30am.
• The center is busiest in August and just after Chinese New Year. In general, we suggest getting there as close to opening time as possible.
• Most of the staff at the centers speak basic English and are used to dealing with foreigners.

Prepare before you go

• Your passport.
• Approx RMB 600 in cash.
• Your address in Chinese (if you want to have your results mailed to you).
• Two passport photos. There is a photo studio at the health check center if you don’t have time to get them before.
• An empty stomach. You cannot eat breakfast the day of your health check, as this will affect the blood test and stomach ultrasound results.

How to get to there

There is only one Beijing International Travel Healthcare Centers in Beijing:

• 20 Hepingli North Road, Dongcheng District (6427 4239)
  东城区和平里北街20号办理

NOTE: The center was formerly located at 23/F, Jinao International Building, 17 Madian East Road, Haidian District (5864 8800, 6427 4240) 海淀区马甸东路17号金澳国际大厦23层, and 10 Northwest Wangdezheng Road, Haidian District, (海淀区西北旺德政路10号) before that. These addresses are still listed as active on certain blogs. These addresses are no longer correct for the health check center.

Navigating the Medical Examination, step-by-step

Step 1: Reserve a time

You can now register for your examination appointment through a WeChat mini-app. To find it, search official accounts for WeChat ID: 海关总署国际旅行卫生保健中心 and click through to the account. Then tap the leftmost button marked 业务办理 and select the first option on the pop-up list, 我要预约.

In the top right corner of the mini-app, there will be a language icon. Tap the icon to use the English version of the app, then tap Individual Appointment > Inbound M.E. appointment to begin the registration process and book your appointment.

Step 2: Register

Fill in an “Application for Medical Examination Form” as you arrive. It’s standard stuff: full name, passport number, phone number, and a brief medical history.

If there are none of these blank forms available proceed straight to the registration counter.

Queue up at the registration counter at the center of the room. The staff member who inputs your details will take a snapshot of you on a digital camera, print out a form which lists the examinations you need to complete, give you a pack of barcode stickers that will be used by the doctors to track your results, and direct you to the cashiers.

Step 3: Pay

As of April 2019, the cost for a Health Check for a Work Visa was RMB 506. You can only pay by cash. Hang onto the yellow fapiao if you need to claim this back from your employee or school later.

Step 4: Begin your examinations

This is where the fun begins. The printed form that you got at registration is like a bingo card, listing the various exams that you need to undertake, the room number, and space for the doctors to sign off on the test. Get all the exams signed off, and you win the right to stay in China… hopefully. The exams are typically the following: ECG (heart), ENT (ear-nose-throat), eye test, stomach ultrasound (for men too), chest x-ray, blood test, and simple weight and height measurements.

As you do the exams (you don’t need to do them in any particular order), the doctors will take a barcode sticker, sign off your ‘bingo card’ and send you on your way.

Note:

• There may be multiple rooms available for each examination.
• If you wear a bra, you’ll need to remove it for the chest x-ray, but can leave your shirt on.
• The examinations are quick, painless, and non-invasive, although you will need to expose your bare chest for the heart rate monitor (overseen by a female doctor).
• If you look visibly foreign, you may sometimes be hauled to the front of the queue, past the long line of old grannies. Just go with it.

Step 4: Return your form

Now that you’ve got all the exams done, take your form to the “return form” desk of the registration counter, and hand it over along with two passport photos, which you can get taken at the photo studio if you do not have copies yourself.  You can keep any other printouts that the doctors have given you (heart rate monitor for example), for your records.

You will be issued two copies of the health check, which are valid for 6 months. If you think you may need more than two, ask for extra copies now and prepare to pay extra for them.

You have a choice of either picking up the results yourself or having them mailed to you for a fee of RMB 30. If you choose the latter, have your mobile number and address in Chinese ready.

The End

Congrats, you’ve done it! Your results can be picked up two days later, or mailed to you within a week.

READ: Medical Insurance – Why You Need It and How to Get It

Images: Unsplash, the Beijinger, Anna Pellegrin Hartley, betminded.com