Horgos is no longer a 'tax haven'

Horgos, a small and young city in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, will no longer be a "tax haven" for companies that take advantage of the city's preferential policies on tax exemption, as the city has been tightening up requirements for businesses that are eligible for the policies.

"Even the companies that run businesses to help other companies register in Horgos have closed. The good times are gone," said Luo Shenghao, an import and export businessman who gave up his part-time job helping other domestic companies register in the city.

Luo started his job on the side in November 2016 when there were many companies running such businesses in Horgos, which borders Kazakhstan and only became a county-level city in 2014. Many of their clients were film and media production companies owned by movies stars and famous directors. With the help of those companies, they can complete the registration process within a month without showing up, he said.