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Since the Qin Dynasty unified the world and implemented the system of prefectures and counties, the dynastic system has continued to develop. By the Qing Dynasty, a national governance structure with linkage between top and bottom and internal and external maintenance was formed. In the Qing Dynasty, fiscal power was mainly exercised by the central government. Whether each province was in financial surplus or in deficit and whether subsidies were needed was entirely decided by the central government. Therefore, a fiscal transfer system-the rates system-was established to determine whether the provinces were in surplus or in deficit. The rates system is documented in memorials and private writings. It was an extremely important institutional arrangement during the Qing Dynasty. The ideas and remnants of this system are still in effect today. The study of the rates system in the late Qing Dynasty can provide us with historical experience and have reference significance for the current reality.