From March at the earliest, every Guangzhou citizen, even those without income, should make a declaration to tax authorities, the Yangcheng Evening News reported Sunday.

The newspaper did not say whether this would apply to adults only, but said employed people would be supplied with receipts for the tax paid, which does not apply now.

The receipts will help people prove their fixed income when required such as when applying for bank loans and visas.

In China, people earning more than 800 yuan (US$97) per month should pay tax, which is usually deducted from salaries by employers. A separate receipt for everybody is not required by state tax authorities, but individual receipts are required for people engaged in 13 highly paid job categories including sports coaches, actors, models, lawyers, accountants, doctors and telecom employees.

The new method in Guangzhou could enhance tax collectors' supervision of people's incomes, the newspaper said. Those without incomes should declare their income as zero.

However, there would be no change to the way employers collect tax from employees.

It had been tried in the Guangzhou Development Area for more than a year and had worked well, the report said

(Shenzhen Daily December 22, 2003)