To reform resources tax system will be one of the key tasks in China's tax system reform, and authoritative sources disclosed that resources tax reform plan is likely to be published in the latter half of this year and will expand the scope of tax collection.

   The sources disclosed that China is considering putting some natural resources that are originally out of the scope of resources tax collection into the scope, say mining of underground water, in an effort to promote comprehensive utilization of resources.

   Meanwhile, the reform plans to change the way of collection of resources tax from specific volume to ad valorem, that is to collect the tax at fixed percentage method. But there will be no specific tax rate standards for lean ores and rich ores.

   China is collecting resources tax according to specific volume at present, that is, according to the mining volume.

   Reform of resources tax will lead to increase of tax burden of resources tax. It is estimated that the resources tax on mineral resources will be increased from about 10 yuan/ton at present to 20-30 yuan/ton. Meanwhile, under the influence of price transmission, the cost pressure on processing enterprises will increase, and will show up in the following year.

   China now imposes resources tax on crude oil, natural gas, coal, other non-metallic mineral ores, ferrous metal ores, nonferrous metal ores, and salt.