China may start levying taxes on an increasing number of luxury goods as part of the country’s efforts to push forward economic reform.

More products might be taxed, as part of the country’s tax reform plans for this year, said Kong Jingyuan, a director-general at the National Development and Reform Commission.

The guidelines for tax reforms were published by the Central Government on Friday.

In the guideline, the NDRC pledged to “properly modify the rate and scope of consumption taxes”. According to Kong, the changes will be carried out both in terms of rates and structures.

Taking into consideration the increasing national income levels, some products that used to be regarded as luxury goods are now seen as daily necessities and thus will not be taxed as luxury products, he said.

In addition, he said, some goods that have become more common in recent years, such as luxury cars and yachts, will be subject to luxury taxes.

Heavier consumption taxes will also be levied on “heavy-polluting and excessive-energy consuming products”, according to the guideline.

An earlier report by China National Radio said that a 20 percent extra tax will be levied on cars priced at more than 1.7 million yuan ($277,440).

China’s luxury-goods market is likely to grow by a world-leading 20 percent this year, accounting for more than a quarter of global luxury sales.

Source chinadaily