Mainland China: STA Party Committee Reviews Political Performance Education, Plans Consolidation

On 7 September 2026, the STA Party Committee held an expanded meeting and a Party Building Work Leading Group meeting to summarize the “Establishing and Practicing the Correct View of Political Achievements” (树立和践行正确政绩观) thematic education campaign conducted across the national tax system since early 2026. The campaign aimed to correct formalism, bureaucratism, and short-termism in tax administration — such as overemphasizing revenue collection targets at the expense of service quality, or launching “campaign-style” enforcement without due process. The meeting adopted a consolidation plan focusing on institutionalizing the outcomes: embedding the correct performance view in cadre evaluation systems, refining the “Taxpayer Satisfaction Index” as a key performance metric, and establishing a long-term mechanism for rectifying maladministration.

Key Takeaways

  • Performance Metric Reform: The STA is moving away from single-dimensional revenue targets toward a balanced scorecard including law-based administration rate, taxpayer satisfaction, refund timeliness, dispute resolution efficiency, and integrity compliance.
  • Anti-Formalism Measures: New rules limit the number of “special inspections” and “concentrated publicity weeks” that burden grassroots units. All such activities now require pre-approval with clear problem-solving objectives.
  • Feedback Loops: A “Taxpayer Voice” platform has been institutionalized, allowing enterprises and individuals to rate their interactions with tax offices. Low scores trigger automatic supervisory review.

Disclaimer: This article is compiled and summarized by the AI based on publicly available information and is for general information purposes only. It does not constitute any form of formal tax advice, legal opinion, or basis for performance. Please consult a qualified professional tax advisor or legal counsel for tax advice.

Source: Read Official Announcement