Taiwanese VAT on e-services

Taiwan introduced VAT on electronic services providers to consumers by non-resident providers from May 2017. Domestic providers have been required to levy the indirect tax since May 2014.

Electronic services liable to Taiwanese VAT

Income from services subject to the consumption tax include:

Online games
Videos
Music
E-books
Newspapers/journals
Apps
Membership websites
Software and related hosting services

Taiwanese e-service provider VAT registrations

Non-residents are required to register in Taiwan when they pass the annual VAT registration threshold – NTD $480,000 per annum (approximately €13,700). The provider may VAT register through the Ministry of Finance’s web portal.

Information required includes:

Company certificate of incorporation
Country of residence
Tax identification number
Company contacts details
Bank account details
Date of commencement of services
Tax Agent details, if applicable

Alternatively, VAT payers may use a local tax agent to register and file on their behalf.

Penalties for non-compliance will be between NTD3,000 and NTD30,000

Taiwanese e-service provider VAT compliance

The Ministry of Finance has indicated that providers will be excused from providing compliant invoices until 1 January 2019. In Taiwan, invoices with secure numbering are issued by the government for VAT registered business to use. This is done on a 2-month basis.

Returns must be submitted every two months, and the due date is the 15^th of the month following the reporting period end.

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