Hello all,

I have just been given a job in Beijing. Although I have worked in Asia for many years, I have always travelled there and lived in the UK.
This is my first experience of being an expat.
I will be moving later this year and taking my wife and 2 teenage kids (leaving my eldest at home to finish university. It is a senior (MD) position and the company are covering most, if not all, costs.

Everything is very new to me and moving at a fast pace and I have some basic questions that would help to set me in the right direction.

1. Accomodation costs: I have looked at a number of websites and some accomodation costs are given as examples however I cannot see if this is a monthly or annual cost. For example, a 4 bedroom villa is quoted at around USD$6000. What would be the typical accomodation costs for a 4 bedroom place?

2. Housekeeping: It has been advised that I get a housekeep so that my wife can use her time to meet with other expat wives, do things etc whilst I am working (I'll still be travelling to a certain extent). I can see that costs for this vary depending on level of English speaking and hours required. I'm guessing that I won't need babysitting services with teenagers but just general housekeeping, cleaning, washing and cooking. Is this the 'norm'? Again, not something I'm used to really as my wife normally does these things.

3. Driving: It has been strongly advised that I get a driver for my wife and children due to parking issues, not understanding road signs and also to avoid any issues if an accident occurs. How would this work?
Would I buy a car and hire a driver? Would they be at my call all the time/live in? I've tried to search for this but can only find short term options for holiday makers.

4. Taxes: I will be paid in China by the chinese company. Will I have to self assess?
Also, are there tax breaks available (for example, I have friends who live in Hong Kong who say they pay 15% tax at most)

I'm sure I will have a lot more questions but I have learned a lot from reading this forum so am trying to digest everything first.
I'm aiming to get an idea of requirement ahead of my wife and I going on a fact finding mission to Beijing in about 2 months time.

Thanks in advance
Dave

1. 6000USD per month.
2. Anywhere between 200 and 500USD per month.
3. Buy the car and hire a driver, paid monthly salary, on call all the time.
4. No self assessment, tax will be deducted from you monthly salary, company accountants should take care of that.

I am sure for a senior position the company will organise the car and driver for you. We leased two Buick 7-seaters in the past for the expat families. The boss of that company pays the driver's salary, your company would pay the running costs.

For the 'ayi', is is quite normal to hire a maid in China. For 4 or 5 half days, cost is negligible.

I am astonished that your company has not facilitated your move by providing answers to your very reasonable questions.

Dave,

I am in a similar situation- will be arriving in Beijing this Fall, family with four kids to follow in the Winter. The astonishment of the previous poster fails to recognize that the big expat packages of the past are gone; and many of us are left to figure it out.

My specific questions are about the Car, the driver, and Personal Income tax.

I have heard that China exacts 45% of anything over $14000US.

Would love to know what it costs to buy a car there and hire a driver for. I need to at least gather these numbers so the company I am working with (for whom this is all new) will know the numbers.

I'm not a British Expat- you you guys seem to do a better job of organizing than we US kids do

Thanks to anyone who can help answer the questions.

In Service,
Matt

Hi Gents,

I worked in Shanghai for 2 years, although I'm not 100% certain on the income tax, the 45% you mention sounds about right. Fortunately my company paid it for me.

Dave, you will only need to do self assessments for the UK if you have an income there that exceeds the minimum tax threshold (around GBP6000) based on profit after expenses paid, eg if you rent out your house.

Tax Certificates - One tip for you both - You will receive Tax Certificates from your Finance Manager / HR which detail your salary and the tax you've paid. These are very important documents since you will only be allowed to send money out of China to the tune of the amount of your earnings! So, since you might be claiming plenty of expenses when traveling, it's better to receive these in cash, and spend it, or if possible have them paid offshore.
If you have your expenses paid into your bank account, and you don't spend that off, you'll end up with a surplus in your account that one day you may not be able to move.

Drivers - they can be expensive, but really the company should organise that for you as they will already have the contacts etc etc. Buik vans are the most popular, you'll see them everywhere...

Enjoy Beijing!
Regards
Paul