Some 681 tax-cheating officials were identified last year and 87 of them are facing possible criminal punishment, said an official with the State Administration of Taxation at a Sunday meeting of top officials from across the nation.

Also in the year, the national tax system's discipline inspection and supervision departments accepted 7,026 petitions, with 488 cases filed for investigation.

The official pointed out that the identification and prosecution of these officials resulted from the system's tightening control over illegal activities in the past year.

In the year ahead, the official said, greater focus will be given to the control and supervision of tax collection and greater transparency in the administration's daily operations.

(Xinhua News Agency February 28, 2005)