Wang, an SIP resident, recently found with great surprise that the tax she actually paid for a handbag bought from overseas was RMB 900 less than she had expected to pay. Unveiling the reason for that, SIP Customs said it has followed the new policy enforced by the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council on Apr 9 to cut the personal postal articles tax on overseas food, beverage and medicine from 15% to 13% and that on textiles and electrical appliances from 25% to 20%.

SIP Customs also disclosed that its service outlet in the local post office saw a tax revenue reduction of RMB 60,075 from Apr 9 to 15 following the implementation of the new policy. It is estimated that a total reduction by RMB 3 million can be expected till the end of the year.