Taipei, Taiwan - The Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) on Friday devoted its weekly Facebook live program to brief Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the country on how to avail of income tax refunds.     

During the MECOlive program, Overseas Welfare Administration (OWWA) case officer Mira Martha Huang and ATN (Assistance To Nationals) officer Carlito Marquez discussed the basic rules and processes on how to avail of tax refunds in Taiwan.          

“Both local residents and migrant workers have the responsibility of filing individual income tax returns based on their respective taxable income. Part of the compensation we earn—such as salaries, stipends, allowances—are taxable income,” Huang said.                                                  

The computation of taxable income in Taiwan is based on a full year or from 01 January to 31 December.         

Huang said a Filipino worker in Taiwan is qualified for a tax refund if he is considered a resident, meaning he stayed in Taiwan for more than 183 days and has paid more than what should have been deducted from his taxable income.

In the case of caretakers who have stayed in Taiwan for more than 183 days, they are considered residents and no longer need to pay tax.

She explained that if a caretaker left Taiwan before completing 183 days the latter has to pay the required taxes. But if he returns in the same year and completed the required number of days to be considered as a resident, he is qualified for a refund.                                                            

Filipino blue-collar workers who stayed in Taiwan for more than 183 days but whose employers deducted from their salaries withholding taxes in excess of the tax he was supposed to pay are likewise entitled to a refund.                       

“If you have any question, you can seek the assistance of the (Taiwan) tax bureau. You can call us at MECO Labor (07 3987078), or OWWA (07 3982475), and even get help from various NGOs helping OFWs,” Huang remarked.                      

She also advised OFWs to refrain from comparing the amount of taxes due from them since computation would differ based on the type of job and the salary they are receiving.                             

The period for the filing of income tax return in Taiwan is every month of May of the following taxable year so that the income tax return (ITR) for 2020 should have been filed from 1 to 31 May 2021. However, due to the pandemic, the application period for this year was extended until 30 June 2021.                             

OFWs in Taiwan may file their income tax return online (www.ntbk.gov.tw.eng) or at the nearest tax bureau in their area.      

Release of refund is faster if the filing of ITR is done electronically, usually between August to September of the same year. However, if the ITR is filed using paper documents, the refund schedule is between the end of October up to December of the same year.                                        

“If you filed late, or after May 31, you will have to pay a penalty. However, no penalty would be imposed if you are qualified for a tax refund even if you filed (the ITR) late,” explained Huang.

A tax refund in Taiwan may be claimed within 5 years but a tax refund cheque is only valid for one year.           

In case the OFW who is qualified for a tax refund has already returned to the Philippines, Huang said he may request the assistance of MECO Manila (8848-3796 to 97) or OWWA Regional Offices, which will forward the pertinent information to MECO Labor Center in Taiwan. 

Taipei, Taiwan - Sa pagpapatuloy ng misyon nitong tulungan ang Filipino community sa Taiwan, inilaan ng Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) nitong Biyernes ang kanilang weekly Facebook live program para sa pagbibigay ng impormasyon sa mga overseas Filipino workers (OFW) sa Taiwan kaugnay sa kanilang mga income tax refunds.

Sa programang MECOlive, tinalakay nina Overseas Welfare Administration (OWWA) case officer Mira Martha Huang at Assistance To Nationals (ATN) officer Carlito Marquez ang mga basic rules at mga proseso upang makakuha ng tax refunds sa Taiwan.

“Both local residents and migrant workers have the responsibility of filing individual income tax returns based on their respective taxable income. Part of the compensation we earn—such as salaries, stipends, allowances—are taxable income,” saad ni Huang.

Ang computation ng taxable income sa Taiwan ay base sa isang taong pagtatrabaho o mula 01 January hanggang 31 December.

Ayon kay Huang, ang isang OFW sa Taiwan ay qualified sa tax refund kung siya ay kinokonsiderang residente ng bansa o namalagi siya sa Taiwan nang lampas 183 araw at nakapagbayad ng labis kaysa sa standard na ibinabawas sa kanyang taxable income.

Sa kaso naman ng mga caretakers na namalagi sa Taiwan nang lampas 183 araw, kinokonsidera na rin silang mga residents at hindi na kailangan pang magbayad ng tax.

Paliwanag pa niya, kung sakaling umalis na ng Taiwan ang caretaker bago matapos ang 183 araw, kailangan nitong magbayad ng kaukulang buwis at kung sakali namang bumalik ito sa taong din iyon at nakumpleto ang kinakailangang mga araw upang makonsidera ito bilang resident ay qualified ito para sa refund.

Samantala, ang mga Filipino blue-collar workers naman na namalagi sa Taiwan nang lampas sa 183 araw subalit binabawas ng kanilang employer ang withholding taxes sa kanilang mga suweldo na sobra sa dapat nilang bayarang buwis ay entitled din sa refund.

“If you have any questions, you can seek the assistance of the (Taiwan) tax bureau. You can call us at MECO Labor (07 3987078) or OWWA (07 3982475) and even get help from various NGOs helping OFWs,” sabi ni Huang.

Nagpaalala rin si Huang sa mga OFW na huwag ikumpara ang kanilang mga babayarang buwis dahil magkaiba ang computation ng buwis base sa trabaho at nakukuhang suweldo.

Ang period ng filing ng income tax return (ITR) sa Taiwan ay tuwing buwan ng Mayo mula sa kasunod na taxable year upang ang income tax return para sa taong 2020 ay nai-file na mula 1 hanggang 31 May.

Subalit dahil sa coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), ang application period ngayong taon ay pinalawig hanggang 30 June 2021.

Ang mga OFW sa Taiwan ay maaaring mag-file ng kanilang income tax return online sa www.ntbk.gov.tw.eng o sa pinakamalapit na tax bureau sa kanilang lugar.

Mas mapapabilis ang pag-release ng refund kung isasagawa online ang pagpa-file ng ITR sa pagitan ng Agosto at Setyembre at kung sakali namang mag-file gamit ang mga paper documents, ang refund schedule ay sa pagitan ng Oktubre hanggang Disyembre.

“If you filed late, or after May 31, you will have to pay a penalty. However, no penalty would be imposed if you are qualified for a tax refund even if you filed (the ITR) late,” saad ni Huang.

Ang tax refund sa Taiwan ay maaaring i-claim sa loob ng limang taon, subalit ang tax refund cheque ay balido lamang ng isang taon.

Kung sakali namang ang OFW na qualified sa tax refund ay nakabalik na sa Pilipinas, maaari itong humingi ng tulong sa MECO Manila (8848-3796 to 97) o sa mga OWWA regional offices at sila na ang magpapaabot nito sa MECO Labor Center sa Taiwan.