Income Basic Tax Act

The purposes of this Act are to uphold tax equity, to ensure tax revenue for the country, and to require basic contributions by profit-seeking enterprises and individuals to public finance in regard to their income tax burden.

This Act shall apply to all matters concerning the calculation, filing, payment and assessment of the Income Basic Tax. The provisions of the Income Tax Act and those related to tax incentives in other laws shall govern any such matters not provided for in this Act.

A profit-seeking enterprise or an individual shall pay income tax in accordance with this Act, with the exception of cases coming under one of the following conditions: 1. A profit-seeking enterprise organized in the form of sole proprietorship or partnership. 2. An educational, cultural, public welfare and charitable organization or institution in accordance with Subparagraph 13 of Paragraph 1 of Article 4 of the Income Tax Act. 3. A consumer cooperative in accordance with Subparagraph 14 of Paragraph 1 of Article 4 of the Income Tax Act. 4. A public utility enterprise owned by governments at various levels in accordance with Subparagraph 19 of Paragraph 1 of Article 4 of the Income Tax Act. 5. An individual not residing in the territory of the Republic of China or a profit-seeking enterprise having no fixed place of business or business agent within the territory of the Republic of China in accordance with Paragraph 1, Article 73 of the Income Tax Act. 6. A profit-seeking enterprise filing its income tax return due to liquidation in accordance with Paragraph 2, Article 75 of the Income Tax Act; or a profit-seeking enterprise in the event of bankruptcy in accordance with Paragraph 6 of the same article of the Income Tax Act. 7. A profit-seeking enterprise that, in its annual or final income tax return, does not apply for any investment tax credit in accordance with any law and does not have any income within the scope of any of the subparagraphs of Paragraph 1 of Article 7. 8. An individual who, in his or her annual income tax return, does not apply for any investment tax credits in accordance with any law and does not have any amount within the scope of any of the subparagraphs of Paragraph 1 of Article 12 or Paragraph 1 of Article 12-1. 9. A profit-seeking enterprise whose basic income as calculated in accordance with Paragraph 1, Article 7 is equal to or less than NT$ 500,000. 10. An individual whose total amount of basic income as calculated in accord

If the amount of regular income tax for a profit-seeking enterprise or an individual is greater than or equal to the amount of basic tax, the income tax of the current year for the said enterprise or individual shall be calculated in accordance with the Income Tax Act and other relevant laws. If the amount of regular income tax is less than the amount of basic tax, the amount of income tax payable shall include both the amount as calculated in accordance with the Income Tax Act and other relevant laws, and the difference between the amount of basic tax and regular income tax. The difference calculated in accordance with the preceding paragraph shall not be decreased by any investment tax credit granted under any other laws.

In the case that a profit-seeking enterprise or an individual files an income tax return under Paragraph 1, Article 71; Paragraph 1 and Paragraph 2, Article 71-1; Paragraph 2, Article 73; Article 74; or Paragraph 1, Article 75 of the Income Tax Act, it/he/she shall calculate, file and pay income tax in accordance with this Act. In the case that an individual is exempted from filing his or her annual income tax return in accordance with Paragraph 3, Article 71 of the Income Tax Act, he or she shall still calculate, file and pay income tax in accordance with this Act under the condition that his or her basic income exceeds the amount calculated in accordance with Subparagraph 10 of Paragraph 1 of Article 3.

The amount of regular income tax of a profit-seeking enterprise shall be the balance of the tax payable calculated in accordance with Paragraph 1, Article 71; Paragraph 2, Article 73; Article 74; or Paragraph 1, Article 75 of the Income Tax Act, after subtraction of any investment tax credits in accordance with the provisions of other laws.

The amount of basic income of a profit-seeking enterprise shall be the sum of the taxable income as calculated in accordance with the Income Tax Act and any income that falls under the following subparagraphs: 1. The amount of income for which income tax is suspended in accordance with Article 4-1 and Article 4-2 of the Income Tax Act. 2. The amount of income for which profit-seeking enterprise income tax is exempted in accordance with Article 9, Article 9-2, Article 10, Article 15 and Article 70-1 of the now-abolished Statute for Upgrading Industries before its repeal. 3. The amount of income for which profit-seeking enterprise income tax is exempted in accordance with Article 8-1 of the now-abolished Statute for Upgrading Industries before its amendment on December 31, 1999. 4. The amount of income exempted from profit-seeking enterprise income tax in accordance with Article 28 of the Statute for Encouragement of Private Participation in Transportation Infrastructure Projects. 5. The amount of income exempted from profit-seeking enterprise income tax in accordance with Article 36 of the Act for Promotion of Private Participation in Infrastructure Projects. 6. The amount of income exempted from profit-seeking enterprise income tax in accordance with Article 18 of the Act for Establishment and Administration of Science Parks. 7. The amount of income for which profit-seeking enterprise income tax is exempted in accordance with Article 15 of the Act for Establishment and Administration of Science Parks before its amendment on January 20, 2001. 8. The amount of income exempted from profit-seeking enterprise income tax in accordance with Article 37 of the Business Mergers and Acquisitions Act. 9. The amount of income exempted from profit-seeking enterprise income tax in accordance with Article 13 of the Offshore Banking Act. However, such amount of income does not include the total revenue derived from a credit extension that shall be taxed at the prescribed wi

The amount of basic tax of a profit-seeking enterprise shall be the amount of basic income as calculated in accordance with the preceding article, with a deduction of NT$ 500,000, and then multiplied by the tax rate prescribed by the Executive Yuan. The tax rate shall not be more than fifteen percent nor less than twelve percent. The rate of imposition shall be prescribed by the Executive Yuan in view of economic circumstances. As for the calculation for adjustment and public announcement of the amount of deduction as prescribed in the preceding paragraph, Paragraph 2 of Article 3 shall apply mutatis mutandis.

The amount of the balance of the basic tax in excess of the regular income tax paid in accordance with Paragraph 1 of Article 4, and the additional tax paid as determined by the tax authority after its assessment and investigation, may be added to the shareholders' imputation credit account of the profit-seeking enterprise in accordance with Article 66-3 of the Income Tax Act. The reference date is the date of tax payment. The amount of reduced income tax as determined by the tax authority after its assessment and investigation may be deducted from the shareholders' imputation credit account of the profit-seeking enterprise. The reference date is the date of service of the tax refund notice.

(Deleted)

The amount of regular income tax of an individual shall be the balance of the tax payable in accordance with Paragraph 1, Article 71 or Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 2, Article 71-1 of the Income Tax Act, after subtraction of his or her investment tax credits in accordance with the provisions of other laws.

The amount of basic income of an individual shall be the sum of the net taxable income as calculated in accordance with the Income Tax Act and the amount which is under the following subparagraphs: 1. Income derived from sources outside the Republic of China and excluded from gross consolidated income, as well as income which is exempted in accordance with Paragraph 1, Article 28 of the Laws and Regulations Regarding Hong Kong and Macau Affairs. However, if the aggregate of these two sources of income in a tax household is less than NT$1,000,000, it may be exempt from inclusion in the basic income. 2. Insurance payment received by the beneficiary of a life insurance policy or annuity in which the beneficiary and the policyholder are not the same person, and the life insurance policy and annuity take effect after the coming into force of this Act. However, in the case of payment made upon the death of the insured person, the part of which the aggregate payment received by a tax household is equal to or less than NT$30,000,000 may be excluded from the basic income. 3. Income derived from transactions of the following types of securities: (1)Stocks, certificates of entitlement to new shares, certificates of payment and documents demonstrating title to shares issued by or privately placed by companies not listed on a stock exchange or traded on over-the-counter markets, except for those companies that have been approved by the central authority in charge of relevant enterprises as high-risk, innovative startups and have been incorporated for less than five years at the time of transaction. (2)Beneficiary certificates of privately-placed securities investment trust funds. 4. The amount of non-cash donations or contributions which is deducted from the gross consolidated income in accordance with the Income Tax Act and other laws. 5. The amount of income or deduction which leads to reduction, exemption, or deduction from the consolidated income tax as may be provide

If an individual and his or her related parties directly or indirectly hold 50% or more of the shares or capital of a foreign affiliated enterprise in a low-tax country or jurisdiction, or have a significant influence on such a foreign affiliated enterprise, and the foreign affiliated enterprise does not fall under any of the subparagraphs of Paragraph 1, Article 43-3 of the Income Tax Act, and the individual, either alone or with his or her spouse and relatives within the second degree of kinship, holds 10% or more of the shares or capital of the foreign affiliated enterprise, then the surplus earnings of the foreign affiliated enterprise shall be recognized as the individual's income from profit-seeking activities, which is calculated according to the individual's holding ratio of the shares or capital to the total shares or capital, aggregated with the income calculated in accordance with Subparagraph 1, Paragraph 1 of the preceding article, and included in the individual's basic income of the current year. However, if the aggregate income in a tax household is less than NT$1,000,000, it shall be exempt from inclusion in the individual's basic income. The term "a low-tax country or jurisdiction" as mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be determined in accordance with Paragraph 2, Article 43-3 of the Income Tax Act. From the year in which the foreign affiliated enterprise meets the requirements of Paragraph 1, if the losses of each year incurred in the foreign affiliated enterprise have been duly audited and attested to in accordance with Paragraph 3, Article 43-3 of the Income Tax Act, filed by the aforementioned individual and assessed by the tax authority, such losses may be deducted from surplus earnings of the foreign affiliated enterprise within ten years following the year the losses occurred, and then the individual's income from profit-seeking activities shall be calculated in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph 1. When the aforementione

The amount of basic tax of an individual shall be the amount of basic income as calculated in accordance with Article 12 and Paragraph 1 of the preceding article with a deduction of NT$6,000,000 and then multiplied by the tax rate of twenty percent. However, in the case where income tax has been paid on the income under Subparagraph 1 of Paragraph 1 of Article 12, in accordance with the tax laws of the source jurisdiction of that income, such tax paid may be credited against the basic tax. The credited amount shall not exceed the amount of basic tax which, computed by the above mentioned method, is increased due to including such income. When a taxpayer applies for tax credit as described in the preceding paragraph, he or she shall present the evidence of tax payment certificates issued by the tax authorities of the said source jurisdiction for the same tax year and attested to by an overseas agency of the Republic of China or other organizations recognized by the Government of the Republic of China in the said locality. Paragraph 2, Article 3 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the calculation for adjustment and public announcement of the amount of the deduction prescribed in Paragraph 1.

In the case where an individual, as well as his or her spouse and dependents who shall file a consolidated income tax return jointly in accordance with the Income Tax Act, has an amount of income or deduction which is covered by any of the subparagraphs of Paragraph 1 of Article 12 and Paragraph 1, Article 12-1, the taxpayer shall include any such amount in his or her return for the calculation of basic income.

In the case of a profit-seeking enterprise or an individual that has calculated and filed the basic income in accordance with the provisions of this Act, any omission or under-reporting of the basic tax shall be subject to a fine of no more than twice the amount of the tax evaded. In the case of a profit-seeking enterprise or an individual that fails to calculate and file the basic income in accordance with the provisions of this Act, and that is found by the tax authority to have taxable income hereunder, it/he/she shall, in addition to paying the amount of income tax assessed and determined by tax authority in accordance with this Act, be subject to a fine of no more than three times the amount of tax determined as payable.

In case any profit-seeking enterprise or individual is found to have improperly evaded or reduced the tax burden for him or herself or for other person(s) by means of transfer of funds or shareholder's equity, or any other fictitious arrangement with any other domestic or foreign individual, profit-seeking enterprise, educational, cultural, public welfare and charitable organization or institution, the tax authority for the purpose of accurately computing the amounts of basic income and basic income tax of the relevant taxpayers may, after investigation and with the approval of the MOF, make necessary adjustment according to the facts of actual transactions of investigation in accordance with the relevant laws.

If income referred to in Subparagraphs 2 to 8 of Paragraph 1 of Article 7 meets one of the following conditions, the income may be excluded from the amount of basic income of a profit-seeking enterprise: 1. In the case where an approval of tax exemption has been granted by the MOF by the date when this Act comes into force. 2. In the case where an investment plan has been completed or a certificate of completion has been given by the relevant competent authority by the date when this Act comes into force and provided that an approval of tax exemption is granted by the MOF within one year of the date when this Act comes into force. 3. In the case where an investment plan has been approved through a letter of approval issued by the relevant competent authority and the implementation of such plan has begun by the date when this Act comes into force and provided that the product or service item described in the plan has not been changed. 4. In the case where an investment plan has been approved through a letter of approval issued by the relevant competent authority, and though not yet begun by the date when this Act comes into force, provided that the implementation of such plan begins within one year of the date when this Act comes into force and is completed within three years of the next day of the date when the letter of approval is issued, and the product or service item described in the plan has not been changed. 5. In the case where a private institution has entered into an agreement with a competent authority to invest in an infrastructure project by the date when this Act comes into force, provided that the implementation of the project has begun and been completed in accordance with the dates set out in the agreement, and provided that there have been no changes in the investment plan except in circumstances where the change in the content of the agreement is requested by the competent authority.

The enforcement rules of this Act shall be prescribed by the MOF.

This Act shall come into force on January 1, 2006, except as stipulated otherwise; however, Article 15 shall come into force on January 1, 2007. The amendments of this Act promulgated on August 8, 2012 shall come into force in fiscal year 2013. The effective date of the amendments promulgated on May 10, 2017 shall be decided by the Executive Yuan. The amendments of this Act on December 30, 2020 shall come into force on January 1, 2021.