Couples' tax issue creates dilemma

NANJING - To tax or not to tax is the question authorities in this city in East China must answer when deciding whether a partner in a couple must pay when adding his or her name to a property ownership certificate.

A spouse in a couple who wants to obtain part-ownership of a property, which belonged to the other partner before the marriage, by adding his or her name to the ownership certificate is currently not subject to contract tax, according to a notice released by Nanjing tax authorities on Sunday.

However, the notice contradicts one from Aug 23, which said a tax will be imposed on couples who want to complete the process.