Taiwan Taxes -- 2004 Computer Program

I think that everyone is aware that in the last few years the Taiwan tax authorities have developed a computer program which you can get to help you file taxes, no matter whether you file online or in person. Of course, such a program is a great help because it also enables you to fill out all the forms and print them out automatically.

Several of my Taiwanese friends work in insurance companies, and those companies often have their agents offer “free tax calculation services” to their customers, as a kind of free benefit. The insurance agent will take all your withholding forms and calculate your tax for you, and print out all the forms. That is very handy.

Well, anyway . . . . . I just heard that the computer program for 2004 is not ready yet!!!

I would have expected it to be ready in January or February of 2004, so that people can download it to their computers, and get ready to do the tax filing . . . . . . . but I guess the Taiwanese people don’t plan so far in advance . . . . . .

I wonder if the program will be ready by the end of May when taxes are due???

Even if they do, it does not work for foreignors filing in Taiwan. It requires a referecne number, which is the citizens ID number, 1 alpha 9 numerics format, unlike our ARC numbers of 2 alpha and 8 numerics.

Just realized how much this annoys me. I worked in Australia as a non-citizen and filed all of my taxes on-line, including a whole crap load of work related deductions. Why can’t we do this here?

I may be wrong, and if so, tell me! I’d be happy to do it all online!