China targets offshore trusts in widening push for taxes

Thursday marked the deadline for Chinese taxpayers to make outstanding tax payments tied to offshore trusts as the government chases new funding sources to help ease fiscal strains.

Investors face a 20 per cent tax based on the initial value of assets placed in trusts and a 20 per cent tax on distributions under a policy coming into force on Friday.

Authorities backdated the taxes to January 1, 2023, and gave trust holders a 90-day grace period to make penalty-free payments when the changes were...