 Market Fees and Turnover Taxes |
Page 4 of 5 |
| Market Fees and Turnover Taxes |
Page 4 of 5 |
Tax Collector's Have a Tough Job
| The government began collecting income taxes
from the people throughout China only in 1987. Before then, individuals were not required
to pay any taxes. So most Chinese still reject the whole concept and go to great
lengths to avoid paying taxes at the free markets. This attitude makes the tax collector's
job very frustrating. Working in pairs and buzzing around like bees, they fly from stall to stall making their "sting" soon after the market opens. They work quickly, before vendors slip away or hide produce when they see the tax collectors coming their way. Tax collectors take their jobs very seriously. At first, they politely ask vendors to pay up. If the vendor resists, they'll try cajoling him into paying and if that doesn't work, they'll reach into his till or directly into his pocket. As a last resort, they'll grab money from a customer who is about to pay. |
 Many vendors refuse to pay! |
| The tax collectors try to keep this whole process lighthearted, but they are persistent. In Shanghai, as I was observing their work, they tried enlist my help with one recalcitrant vendor by embarrassing him in front of an "American lady". Adding my few words (in Chinese) about the virtues of paying taxes, this vendor reluctantly paid with a "smile" in my direction! |  Cajoling sometimes works. |
