Individual income tax subsidies for eligible overseas talent

Eligible overseas talent in Shenzhen may apply annually for fiscal subsidies under the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area individual income tax (IIT) preferential policy, which is effective through Dec. 31, 2027.

The application period varies from year to year. For example, applications for the 2025 tax year were accepted from Jan. 1 to March 31, 2026, significantly earlier than in previous years. Please monitor official announcements for the latest application dates.

Benefits (based on the 2026 guidelines)

· Subsidy amount: IIT paid in excess of 15% of taxable income

· Tax treatment: The subsidy itself is tax-exempt

· Annual cap: Up to 5 million yuan per taxpayer per tax year

(More information can be found at https://www.sz.gov.cn/szzt2010/wgkzl/jcgk/jcygk/zdzcjc/content/mpost_12588343.html)

Eligibility

Applicants must fall within either the “High-Caliber Talent” or “In-Demand Talent” category for the Shenzhen GBA IIT Subsidy Program (see the attached documents on the bottom of this website: https://www.sz.gov.cn/szzt2010/wgkzl/jcgk/jcygk/zdzcjc/content/mpost_12588343.html  )

High-Caliber Talent includes:

Individuals employed by Shenzhen’s major innovation platforms, research institutions, medical institutions, public health institutions, schools, colleges, universities, CPC schools, public administration schools, or enterprises in Shenzhen’s key development industries, who meet at least one of the following criteria:

· Selected recipients of major talent projects at the national, Guangdong provincial, or Shenzhen municipal level

· Holders of the Guangdong Provincial “Talent Youyue Card”

· Holders of the Shenzhen “Pengcheng Youcai Card”

· Foreign top-tier talents (Category A) under the Classification Standards for Foreigners Working in China, except those qualifying solely because their “average salary income” is no less than 6 times the previous year’s average social wage income in Shenzhen

· Holders of the Confirmation Letter for Foreign Top-Tier Talents, the Confirmation Letter for Guangdong Provincial Foreign High-Level Talents, or the Confirmation Letter for High-Level Talent from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan in Guangdong Province

In-Demand Talent includes:

· Research personnel holding research positions in Shenzhen’s major innovation platforms, research institutions, medical institutions, or public health institutions

· Teaching and research personnel holding teaching and researching positions in Shenzhen’s schools, colleges, universities, CPC schools, or public administration schools

· Core technical personnel, skilled personnel, or senior management personnel holding positions in enterprises within Shenzhen’s key development industries

Shenzhen’s key development industries include:

· High-tech enterprises, specialized and sophisticated enterprises that produce new and unique products, manufacturing industry single champion enterprises, gazelle enterprises, unicorn enterprises, and international industrial and standards organizations;

· Strategic emerging industries and future industries

· Modern service industries