TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Cabinet on Thursday (Jan. 12) confirmed that qualified foreign residents will also be eligible for NT$6,000 tax surplus payments that will be disbursed to Taiwanese citizens.
Since Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said on Jan. 4, NT$140 billion (US$4.24 billion) in surplus tax revenue will be distributed in the form of NT$6,000 cash payments per person, many foreign residents have been wondering whether they will also qualify. During a press conference on Thursday, Cabinet Spokesperson Lo Ping-cheng (羅秉成) said Su had issued a directive that, in principle, foreigners who meet certain conditions can also receive the NT$6,000.
Earlier on Thursday, the Cabinet passed a proposal titled "Special regulations on strengthening economic and social resilience after the pandemic and sharing economic results for all," with an upper limit of NT$380 billion, which will be used in nine categories such as general cash, health insurance funding, and expansion of public transportation subsidies.
The special bill will be sent to the Legislative Yuan for deliberation. After the third reading is passed, the ministries and committees can spend relevant funds.
As to whether the Legislative Yuan will hold a special session to pass the legislation to ensure the tax rebates can be handed out before the Lunar New Year holiday, Lo said that he could not comment and that the Cabinet would respect its decisions.
Regarding payments to foreigners, Lo said after a discussion with the administrative team, Su directed that it should be handled in the same manner as the Quintuple Stimulus Voucher program (振興五倍券). Lo explained that this means that foreigners who meet certain requirements can also receive NT$6,000.
According to Article 4 of the legislation enacting the “Quintuple Stimulus Vouchers” (振興五倍券), the following categories of residents are eligible:
- Taiwanese citizens with existing household registration in Taiwan
- Personnel who are sent abroad by government agencies at all levels and do not have household registration in Taiwan as well as dependents who are Taiwanese citizens
- Taiwanese citizens without a household registration who have obtained a residence permit in Taiwan
- Chinese citizens who have obtained dependent residence permits or long-term residence permits in Taiwan
- Foreign nationals who are the spouse of a Taiwanese citizen with an existing household registration in Taiwan and have obtained a residence permit
- Hong Kong or Macau residents who are the spouse of a Taiwanese citizen and have obtained a residence permit
- Foreign, Hong Kong, or Macao residents in the preceding two paragraphs who are divorced, or their spouses are deceased and their residence permits have not been revoked
- Persons mentioned in subparagraphs 3 to 7 who have obtained a residence permit but have not yet established a household registration
- Foreigners who have obtained permanent residence in Taiwan
- Foreigners who are allowed to reside in Taiwan in accordance with Subparagraph 1 and Subparagraph 2 of Paragraph 1 of Article 27 of the Immigration Act (入出國及移民法), and who have been issued with the key requirements of the identity certificates of personnel stationed in diplomatic institutions in Taiwan and their family members have valid ID cards
