China Briefing is an online publication produced by Dezan Shira & Associates, a multi-disciplinary professional services firm focused on the Asia Pacific region and operating across China, Vietnam, India, and other markets. China Briefing functions as both a business development tool for Dezan Shira's advisory services and as a genuinely useful reference resource for the business and expatriate community.
The publication covers China's regulatory and tax landscape in English, including individual income tax updates, social insurance regulations affecting foreign employees, HR and employment law changes, and general business regulatory developments. Articles are typically written for a business-literate reader rather than a tax specialist, making them accessible to HR managers, compliance officers, and expatriate individuals trying to understand their own situation.
China Briefing is particularly useful for keeping track of regulatory changes in China's IIT and social insurance frameworks, which have been subject to significant revision in recent years. The 2019 IIT reform, the evolving social insurance contribution requirements for foreign nationals, and periodic updates to allowances and deductions for expatriate employees have all been covered with practical summaries.
For individuals seeking specific advice on their personal tax position, China Briefing serves as an orientation resource rather than a substitute for professional advice. Its articles can help an expatriate understand the general framework before engaging a tax adviser or asking more targeted questions of their company's HR or finance team.
Dezan Shira & Associates' advisory team, accessible through the China Briefing website, provides personal tax compliance, payroll processing, company registration, and HR advisory services from offices in major Chinese cities.