Taiwan (TW)
A safe, democratic, tech-forward island with excellent public healthcare, dense transit, world-class food culture, and a strong base for East Asia.
Capital: Taipei
Region: Asia
Language: Mandarin Chinese
Currency: TWD (NT$)
Cost of living: Moderate (index 58)
Emergency: 110
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Business Setup
Start a business or go freelance in Taiwan.
π§βπ» Freelancer / Self-Employed Guide
Steps to register:
- 1 Confirm you have legal work authorisation: Gold Card (Employment Gold Card), APRC with open work permit, entrepreneur visa, company sponsorship, or permitted spouse status.
- 2 Choose sole proprietorship, limited company, or invoicing via a foreign entity depending on your clients, revenue level, and visa constraints.
- 3 Register with the local city/county business registration office (εζ₯η»θ¨) or Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) online platform as applicable.
- 4 Apply for tax registration with the National Taxation Bureau and obtain GUI invoice status if issuing domestic taxable invoices.
- 5 Prepare company seals (chops) and open a dedicated business bank account after registration is confirmed.
- 6 Track income monthly, issue Government Uniform Invoices (GUI) or e-invoices as required, and file Business Tax (ηζ₯η¨ ) returns bi-monthly and Income Tax annually.
- 7 Confirm NHI (National Health Insurance), Labour Insurance, and Labour Pension obligations β rules differ for sole proprietors, company responsible persons, and Gold Card holders.
Tax registration
Business tax registration is handled with the National Taxation Bureau after company or sole-proprietorship registration at MOEA/city office. Corporate income tax rate is 20% on net profit. Individual income tax is filed annually with the Ministry of Finance (moi.gov.tw/fia). GUI e-invoice integration with the MOF cloud system is required for most domestic B2B and B2C sales.
VAT threshold
TWD 480,000 annual taxable sales for service providers triggers mandatory Business Tax (VAT) registration. Standard Business Tax rate: 5%. Small businesses below the threshold may apply for assessed (simplified) tax treatment instead of standard VAT filing. Foreign digital service providers serving Taiwan consumers must register for non-resident VAT (effective since 2017).
Invoicing
Taiwan businesses must issue Government Uniform Invoices (GUI / η΅±δΈηΌη₯¨) or MOF-certified e-invoices for domestic taxable supplies. Invoices must show: business name, GUI number (η΅±δΈη·¨θ), invoice number, date, description, amount, and tax amount. Cross-border service invoices require careful analysis of VAT applicability and withholding tax on Taiwan-source income. Retain records for 5 years.
Social security
Employees must be enrolled in NHI (National Health Insurance), Labour Insurance (εε·₯δΏιͺ), and Labour Pension (εε·₯ιδΌι). Company responsible persons and sole proprietors enrol under NHI category 2 or 3 depending on status. Gold Card and APRC holders should confirm their NHI category with their local NHI administration. There is no unemployment benefit for self-employed individuals.
π‘ Company registration does not automatically confer residence rights. Work authorisation, investment thresholds, and tax residency (183-day rule) must be planned together. The Employment Gold Card is the most flexible route for skilled foreign freelancers β it combines work permit, residence permit, and re-entry permit in one document for 1β3 years.
π’ Business Structures
Sole Proprietorship Β· η¨θ³εθ
Sole trader / sole proprietorship
No statutory minimum
Min. capital
1β3 weeks
Setup time
Liability: Unlimited personal liability
Setup cost: NT$1,000β5,000 (city/county business registration fee + optional accountant)
Best for: Small local services, shops, and simple independent businesses where liability risk is low.
Partnership Β· εε€₯εθ
General partnership
No statutory minimum
Min. capital
2β4 weeks
Setup time
Liability: Partners jointly and severally liable for all partnership debts
Setup cost: NT$2,000β10,000 (registration fee + partnership agreement drafting)
Best for: Small businesses run by two or more trusted partners with simple governance needs.
Limited Company Β· ζιε
¬εΈ
Private limited company
No fixed statutory minimum; practical capital should support intended business activity
Min. capital
3β8 weeks
Setup time
Liability: Limited to each shareholder's capital contribution
Setup cost: NT$20,000β80,000 (CPA fees, MOEA registration, company seals/chops)
Best for: Most foreign-owned small companies, consulting, trading, and service businesses.
Company Limited by Shares Β· θ‘δ»½ζιε
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Corporation / company limited by shares
No general statutory minimum; sector and permit rules may impose capital requirements
Min. capital
1β3 months
Setup time
Liability: Limited to share capital
Setup cost: NT$60,000+ (higher legal and CPA costs for articles of incorporation and MOEA filing)
Best for: Businesses seeking outside investors, share issuance, larger operations, or future public listing.
Branch Office Β· ε€εε
¬εΈεε
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Foreign company branch
Working capital registered for the Taiwan branch (amount depends on operations)
Min. capital
1β3 months
Setup time
Liability: Foreign parent company fully liable for all branch obligations
Setup cost: NT$50,000+ (MOEA approval, legalised and translated parent documents, CPA fees)
Best for: Foreign companies needing Taiwan operations without incorporating a local subsidiary.
Representative Office Β· 代葨人辦δΊθ
Representative office
None β cannot generate revenue or issue local invoices
Min. capital
3β8 weeks
Setup time
Liability: Foreign parent responsible; office cannot enter commercial contracts
Setup cost: NT$20,000β60,000 (MOEA approval, document translation and legalisation)
Best for: Market research, liaison, and procurement support before committing to full market entry.
Business Setup
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