VAT net to be widened to realty, finance and consumer services

The government is likely to come out with a fresh value-added tax reform plan for the real estate, finance and consumer-oriented services industries next month, ending the three-year reform on all service industries, according to unconfirmed reports.

The Ministry of Finance is believed to have already drafted the plan and the same would be announced after approval from the State Council, the cabinet, Xinhua-affiliated Economic Information Daily said on Thursday, quoting unidentified people close to the ministry.

Even if the plan is sent to the State Council this month and approved in July, it would take another few months to finalize the implementation mechanism. So in all probability, the reforms are likely to be implemented by the end of this year, the sources said.