Research on the reform effect and direction of rare earth resource tax based on resource endowment difference

In order to improve the taxation of rare earth resources, adjust differential income, promote the formation of a reasonable pricing mechanism for rare earth minerals and finally promote the sustained development of the rare earth industry, two tax reforms on rare earth minerals have been carried out in China since 2011. From the perspective of resource endowment difference, this paper probes into the burden facing rare earth enterprises both in southern and northern China before and after the two reforms, as well as the reforms′ effect from 2010 to 2017. It was found that initial success had been achieved in differential income adjustment and stabilization of tax burden on corporations. However, a reasonable pricing mechanism for rare earth minerals didn′t come into being because the reforms were not able to accurately reflect differences and changes in resources′ value. Thus, this paper concludes that not only particularities of rare earth resources, but also the background of the development of the rare earth industry should be taken into account when reforms on rare earth resource tax are initiated. Besides, the marketization of "resource auction" can help achieve the aim of protecting rare earth resources and demonstrating their values by means of taxation.