TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Finance said that foreign permanent residents and foreign spouses are among four groups eligible for NT$6,000 (US$197) tax surplus payments and there are five ways in which it can be obtained.

During a session of the Legislative Yuan on Tuesday (Feb. 21), a NT$380 billion proposal titled "Special regulations on strengthening economic and social resilience after the pandemic and sharing economic results for all," passed the third reading. It will provide a NT$6,000 tax rebate to citizens and qualified foreign residents.

In a press release issued on Thursday afternoon (Feb. 23), the Ministry of Finance (MOF) confirmed that from that budget, the Cabinet had allocated NT$141.7 billion in surplus tax revenue to be distributed to the public.

The finance ministry said there are four groups eligible for the NT$6,000 bonus, including:

1. Taiwan nationals (including newborns born in Taiwan with a birth certificate)


2. Personnel from government agencies at all levels stationed abroad and their dependents with Taiwan citizenship


3. Foreign spouses of Taiwan citizens from China, Hong Kong, and Macau and other countries, including foreign spouses with an Alien Resident Certificate (ARC)


4. Foreigners who have obtained an Alien Permanent Resident Certificate (APRC)

The ministry said there are five planned methods to distribute the funds, including:

1. Registration on new tax rebate website and deposit into account


2. Cash collection at an ATM


3. Cash collection at the post office


4. Direct deposit


5. Distribution to specific groups unable to use the previous four methods

MOF said the distribution schedule of the cash will be designated by the Cabinet after the special budget has completed the legal procedures.

Ahead of the Cabinet announcing the distribution of funds, there have been reports of scammers providing fraudulent information about the distribution of the rebate.

The public is advised to exercise caution to avoid being deceived. In the event of suspected fraud, call the 165 anti-fraud hotline.

Taiwan News asked MOF representative Wang Shu-i (王淑儀) whether foreign residents with an ARC besides foreign spouses are eligible for the tax rebate. Wang responded by saying that tentatively the only ARC holders eligible are foreign spouses, but that the details are not yet finalized, and the Cabinet will later release an official version when it completes its plans for the tax rebate.