Taiwan To Offer Tax Perks And Citizenship To Expat Workers

by Mary Swire, Tax-News.com, Hong Kong

09 October 2002

It emerged this week that plans to exempt expatriate professionals working in certain sectors from income taxes are in the pipeline in Taiwan.

According to a China Times report published on Monday, the proposals are being drawn up by the government's technology advisory body, and are scheduled to be announced by the end of 2002. However, it is anticipated that expat professionals moving to Taiwan to work in the electronics, communications, information services, life sciences and nanotechnology sectors will be granted income tax exemptions.

Another planned incentive designed to attract overseas workers, according to the China Times, is residency or citizenship for the qualified expat, and permission for family members to study,work, drive a car, and claim health benefits in Taiwan.

The newspaper reported that various areas of Taiwan's infrastructure are being upgraded in an attempt to attract overseas professionals, and that 'international' districts are to be created in Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung.

In order to facilitate the process, the Taiwanese authorities are also planning to allow companies to employ more high-tech researchers from the Chinese mainland, and proposals to lift the current quota from 10% to 50% of a company's research force are being considered.

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