TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Finance said Tuesday that vehicle license plate tax collection will run from April 1-30.
The tax applies to private vehicles, heavy motorcycles over 151 cubic centimeters, and commercial vehicles. The ministry estimates about 8.41 million cars will be taxed this year, generating a revenue of NT$66.58 billion (US$2.06 billion), per CNA.
The ministry and the Taichung Tax Bureau held a press conference on Tuesday to detail the upcoming tax collection. Shen Cheng-an (沈政安), a tax bureau official, said the number of vehicles subject to the tax is expected to grow by 2.2% and tax revenue by 0.7% compared with last year.
Shen said that around 5.65 million vehicles in Taiwan's six major cities are subject to the tax, generating an estimated NT$45.24 billion in revenue. He noted that this represents 67% of the total vehicles to be taxed nationwide and 68% of the projected tax revenue.
Approximately 1.16 million vehicles in Taichung will be taxed, generating an estimated NT$9.5 billion in revenue. This accounts for 13.8% of the nationwide vehicle count and 14.3% of the total tax revenue, making Taichung the leader in both categories.
About 1.02 million vehicles will be exempt from the tax this year, representing an estimated NT$10.6 billion in exemptions. Shen said the exemptions include 696,971 vehicles due to disability and 97,664 electric vehicles.
To promote energy conservation and carbon reduction, Taiwan's local governments have exempted electric vehicles from the license plate tax since 2012. The number of electric cars has surged from 300 in 2012 to 97,664 this year, a 306-fold increase.
The ministry said the tax can be paid via credit card, ATM, or at convenience stores. A 1% late fee will be added for every three days of delayed payment, up to a maximum of 10%.
The ministry added that if payment is not made within 30 days, the local tax authority will refer the case to the Administrative Enforcement Agency for compulsory enforcement.
