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1. Can I claim a special deduction for major disease healthcare costs through my employer's annual tax settlement?

Yes, you can. If your employer handles your annual tax settlement, you can simply input your eligible major disease healthcare costs on the tax bureau app (个人所得税). Then, authorize your employer (the withholding agent) to claim this deduction on your behalf.

2. My child finishes high school in June and starts college in September. Can I claim education deductions for July and August?

Absolutely! The education deduction can continue through July and August as your child transitions from high school to college. This ensures you can maintain the deduction without interruption during this period.

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3. How do divorced or restructured families handle child education deductions?

Parents can agree on how to divide the deduction for educational costs. However, the total deduction for each child should not exceed 2,000 yuan (US$276.26) per month, and no more than two people can claim this deduction per child.

4. In restructured families, how can I claim deductions for childcare expenses for children under 3?

Similar to education deductions, parents can decide how to split the childcare deduction for children under the age of 3. Remember, the deduction is capped at 2,000 yuan per month for each child, and at most, two people can claim this deduction.

5. Wondering if your master's or PhD counts for tax breaks?

Absolutely! If you're covering school costs for your kids all the way up to a PhD, you can knock off 2,000 yuan a month. And if you're hitting the books yourself for a master's or beyond, you get to deduct 400 yuan monthly during your course. Just a heads up, you can only use this perk for up to 48 months.

6. Married with houses from your single days? Here's how to handle those home loan interests:

Got a house each before you said 'I do'? Here's what to do:

• If you decide to stick with one house for the tax break, the owner claims 100 percent of the deduction and ticks "No" on their form. The other half? They'll need to update their info to stop their deduction from then on.

• Want to split it 50/50? Both of you should fill in your forms and choose "Yes." It's all about teamwork!

7. I have a 30-year home mortgage. How long can I claim the housing loan interest deduction?

When you hear about "first-home mortgage," it simply means getting a loan to buy your FIRST house at a lower interest rate. But here's the deal: If you want to deduct the interest you pay on that loan from your taxes, you've got a time limit. You can only do this for a maximum of 240 months.

8. Supporting elderly parents in a one-child family with remarried parents? Here's a boost:

If your folks have split up and found new partners, but you're still their only child, you can claim a hefty 3,000 yuan monthly deduction for helping out your elderly parents. The catch? This only works if neither parent has other kids in their new families. Keep things simple, right?

9. Do both my parents need to be over 60 for me to claim the elderly support deduction?

Nope, just one of your parents needs to be 60 or older for you to qualify for the elderly support deduction. Once any one of them hits that milestone, you're good to go to claim that benefit.

10. Can I claim a 3,000 yuan monthly deduction if I'm the only surviving sibling in a multi-child family?

Yes, if your siblings have unfortunately passed away, you can start claiming a 3,000 yuan deduction per month starting from the second year. It's a small comfort in tough times.

11. Can I deduct my parents' major disease healthcare costs from my taxes?

Currently, you can't deduct your parents' major healthcare costs from your individual income tax. This kind of expense isn't yet included in the deductions list.

12. What should I do if my employer doesn't show up in the 'Individual Income Tax' app

It sounds like there might be a hiccup with your employer's reporting. Check with your company's finance team or tax clerk to update or correct your employment info in the system. They'll sort it out!

13. Changed your phone? Here's how to update your number in the 'Individual Income Tax' app:

Easy peasy! Just hop into the app, navigate to [My] -> [Security Center] -> [Modify Mobile Phone Number]. You'll need to verify your identity either through your old number or your bank card, and then you can tie your new number to the app.

14. Need to change your password for the 'Individual Income Tax' app?

No worries! Open the app, select [My] -> [Security Center] -> [Change Password]. Enter your old password, the new one, and confirm with a verification code sent to your phone. Voilà!

15. Wondering how to claim those special tax deductions?

You've got a few ways to handle this:

• DIY via the Tax App: Use the 'Individual Income Tax' app to enter your deductions on your own.

• Online: Head over to the Electronic Tax Services website and input the deductions yourself.

• In-person: Visit a taxpayer service hall and get help with your deductions.

• Through Your Employer: This is where the term "withholding agent" comes in. In this case, your employer acts as the withholding agent, meaning they handle the deductions directly from your salary before paying your taxes on your behalf. It's convenient because it integrates the deductions into your payroll process, so everything is automated and you don't have to submit the deductions manually.

This variety of options gives you flexibility based on what's easiest for you to manage your tax deductions.

16. Can I adjust when my elderly support deduction starts or ends in the tax app?

The timeline for the elderly support deduction is pretty set in stone. It kicks in from the month one of your parents hits 60 and ends when your support obligation ceases, according to their birth and other legal circumstances.

Note: If you haven't yet downloaded the Tax App, search for "个人所得税" or "Ge ren suo de shui" in the App store.