Before you read
- Explanations follow national rules; where cities differ, major cities are used as examples.
- Rates and limits change every year, so check the date and sources in each guide.
China Money Guides
- Read alongside the calculators
- China rules
What comes out of a Chinese paycheck, how income tax is reconciled, mortgages, retirement and housing, explained under Chinese rules.
China social insurance
Employer and employee rates for China’s social insurance and housing fund, 2026 contribution bases in Beijing and Shanghai, the medical account reform and rules for foreign employees.
China income tax
China’s IIT rates, the 60,000-yuan basic deduction and seven special deductions, why cumulative withholding raises tax late in the year, the March–June reconciliation, bonus and expat rules.
China mortgages
Chinese mortgage rates from the LPR (5-year 3.5% in 2026) plus a spread, housing fund loans, equal instalments vs equal principal, prepayment, down payment rules and 2023–2024 rate cuts.
China severance and pensions
Severance in China (N, N+1, 2N and caps), the retirement age rise from 2025, how the basic pension is calculated, the 20-year minimum contribution, annuities and the private pension.
China renting vs buying
Costs of renting in China (deposit and three months upfront, agency fee, lease registration, rent deduction) and buying (down payment, 2024 deed tax, fees), with an example cost comparison.
Averaging down
Does lowering your average cost really reduce losses? The effect and the illusion of averaging down, a checklist before buying more, and how to plan staged purchases, with examples.