(Yicai Global) Sept. 19 -- It may take more than five years to introduce a much-anticipated national real estate tax in China, according to a former director of the finance ministry's research institute.

The legislationmay take that long, though it was supposed to be done in two years, the China Real Estate Association's website reported today, citing Jia Kang, who worked for the Chinese Academy of Fiscal Sciences.This indicates that the new tax policy has become a medium- or long-term task rather than a short-term one, he said at a real estate summit in Hangzhou.

A property tax covering the whole country is considered one way to help curb increases in home prices.

The public always hates taxes, the ex-director said. People with more houses are not willing to pay the duty, so it will be very difficult to impose the levy if those with different positions in society do not want it, he added.

The proposal will be submitted to the 13thNational People's Congress for deliberation, the 13thNPC Standing Committee announced on Sept. 7. This means that the legislative body will start discussing the bill within five years.

It is hard to anticipate how long a process involving various drafts will take, Jia said yesterday on his Weibo microblog. Public opinion will be sought and hearings held so it could take years, he added.

Editor: Emmi Laine