The figure represents a growth of 11 percent or 111.4 billion yuan (US$13.4 billion) over the same period last year, officials with the State Administration of Taxation has said.

This stable growth lays a good foundation for the country to reach its tax revenue target set earlier this year, according to the official.

Excluding tariff and agricultural tax, the tax revenue includes682 billion yuan (US$8.3 billion) collected by the central government, up 10.6 percent, and 438.9 billion yuan (US$5.35 billion) collected by local governments.

Indirect tax has also become the major part of the tax revenue, totaling 646.7 billion yuan (US$7.88 billion) during the eight-month period, up 12.7 percent, accounting for 65.4 percent of the total increased tax revenue.

Income tax from overseas-funded enterprises increased 29 percent and individual income tax revenue also grew by 23.8 percent, while income tax from Chinese enterprises rose only 4.3 percent.

(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2002)