I’ve been in Taiwan since March on visa-exempt status to avoid Covid-19 as my family back home is high-risk. I’ve been taking Mandarin classes at a local university. I’m living off of a combination of savings, but also working remotely for a company based in the U.S. which pays me to my U.S. bank account and I pay U.S. taxes on that income. I have no local accounts here in Taiwan.
The government has announced a fifth extension to bring total stay allowance to 210 days, but I’ve read that after 183, one becomes a tax resident. My main question is whether or not I’ll have to answer and/or prove income questions at the airport or elsewhere after 183 days? I’d like to stay for 210+ days, but I’m wondering whether it’s more worth it to simply leave for the year at the 180 day mark.
How much stricter do they get if I stay beyond 183 days?
Tax questions at the airport definitely used to be a thing (a show your receipt or don’t get on the plane kind of thing), but in this day and age, I haven’t heard of it.
As for the pros and cons of being a tax resident, it tends to work in your favor to be one, because as a tax non-resident you get basically no deductions or exemptions. And you’re already liable for more tax after 90 days, anyway.