​

The Business Scope and Permitted Activities of a Representative Office in Taiwan, and the Potential Tax Risks running a Representative Office in Taiwan

​

According to Article 386 of the Companies Act, if a foreign company has no intention to carry out business activities in Taiwan, it can “file an application for the record” with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and set up a representative office in Taiwan to perform “legal actions”. In Article 371, if a foreign company has the intention to carry on business activities in Taiwan, it has to set up a subsidiary or a branch office with the Ministry of Economic Affairs to get the business license.

​

The Ministry of Economic Affairs issued an Interpretation stating that “legal actions” include “signing, bidding, purchasing, quoting and bargaining”(Ministry of Economic Affairs 921029, Interpretation No. 09202221350).  Tax authorities also explain that non-business activities are limited to procurement, an inspection of goods, and contact windows (Ministry of Finance Tax Explanation No. 7586964).

 

     Tax authorities have noted that the scope of activities of many representative offices has exceeded the level of procurement or contact windows and that they also provide different levels of support to their foreign companies, such as marketing support, sales support, and support for technical issues raised by customers. Tax authorities believe that these activities are beyond the scope permitted by the representative office and may lead to tax and legal compliance problems.

 

If the representative office is engaged in business activities, its income shall be regarded as a service fee and shall be subject to a value-added business tax and company income tax. Furthermore, the fund contribution to the representative office because of the sales prompt of the head office may be considered the sales of the representative office. Where there is no evidence of actual revenue and costs, income and revenue can be imputed to the representative office for value-added business tax and company income tax purposes on a “cost-plus” or “deemed profit” basis. 

 

 Tax authorities may consider several indicators below to decide whether the activity is profit-seeking activity:

 

1. The industry of the head office and business model of the representative office.

2. How long do the activities last and whether the activities are frequent and repetitive?

3. The number of staff in the representative office and functions carried out by the representative office.

4. Funds received from foreign head office and how they are used.

 

We suggest the company check whether the current operations in Taiwan are beyond the scope permitted by the representative office through the above indicators and choose to establish a proper entity to reduce tax risk.

 

Summary and FAQs

​

1. What are the limitations on the permitted activities of a representative office in Taiwan, and what are the potential tax risks if the office exceeds these limitations

Answer: The functions of a representative office in Taiwan are limited to "legal actions" such as signing, bidding, purchasing, quoting, and bargaining. It is not allowed to engage in business activities, such as marketing support or sales support. If the representative office engages in business activities, its income will be regarded as a service fee and subject to value-added business tax and income tax. The representative office may also face penalties for understated business tax and income tax if its contribution to the sales of the head office is considered sales of the representative office. Tax authorities may consider several indicators, such as the industry of the head office, the duration and frequency of activities, the number of staff, and the funds received from the head office to determine whether the representative office has exceeded its permitted scope of activities.

 

2. In terms of running a business, what are the differences between setting up a representative office and a subsidiary or a branch in Taiwan?

​

Answer: According to the Companies Act in Taiwan, a foreign company can set up a representative office in Taiwan to perform "legal actions" without the intention of carrying out business activities. However, if the foreign company intends to carry on business activities in Taiwan, it must obtain recognition from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and set up a branch office. The requirements for setting up a subsidiary or a branch office. The subsidiary or a branch office must also register with the tax authorities, obtain a business license, and pay taxes in Taiwan. The scope of activities for a subsidiary or a branch office is broader than that of a representative office, and it can engage in profit-making activities such as sales and manufacturing.

​​

Reference:

 

1. Ministry of Finance Tax Interpretation No. 7586964

 

Foreign companies that have no business in the liaison offices within the territory of Taiwan are exempted from registration but should report to the regulatory agency.

 

The representative office established by a foreign company within the territory of Taiwan, only allowed to carry out procurement, an inspection of goods, and contact windows for its foreign head office, and has no external business, that is explained in accordance with the Ministry of Finance Tax Interpretation No. 7558643 of September 2, 1975, can be exempted from business registration and exempted from business tax and profit-making business income tax, but should file an application for record to the regulatory agency. The payment and receipt of the representative office should be accounted for according to regulations, and obtain receipts by the law or withholding rules. Those who have had non-operating income (such as interests) should still file income tax and pay income tax.

 

2. Ministry of Economic Affairs 921029, Interpretation No. 09202221350

 

Article 386 Companies Act is the legal source for the establishment of an office in Taiwan by a foreign investor. The formation of a representative office in Taiwan only "files an application for the record" to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (it does not like the branch office, which is recognized by the Ministry of Economic Affairs) and cannot do business activities. In practice, it can only sign contracts, bidding, purchasing, quoting and bargaining.

 

3. Article 371 Companies Act

 

     A foreign company may not apply for recognition without making incorporation registration in its own country and conducting its business operations therein. A foreign company may not transact business within the territory of the Republic of China without obtaining a certificate of recognition from the government of the Republic of China and completing the procedure for branch office registration.

 

4. Article 386 Companies Act

 

     A foreign company which, having no intention to set up a branch office to transact business within the territory of the Republic of China, has not applied for recognition in the Republic of China, but designates a representative for the performance of juristic acts relating to its business in the territory of the Republic of China, shall file an application for record with the competent authority setting forth therein the following particulars:

(1)The name, class of company, nationality, and location of the company;

(2)Its authorized capital and the date of its incorporation;

(3) The business of the company and the juristic acts relating to its business to be done by its representative in the territory of the Republic of China; and

(4)The name, nationality, and domicile or residence of its designated litigious and non-litigious representative in the territory of the Republic of China.

If the aforesaid representative shall, from time to time, be required to reside in the territory of the Republic of China, the company shall establish a representative's office and report its location in accordance with the aforesaid provisions.

The documents filed for recordation under the preceding two Paragraph shall be certified by the embassy/consulate, the representative office, business office of or any other institute authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and stationed at the locality where the competent authority of its own country or its representative conducts its/his business or legal acts or at the place where its representative's office is located.

A foreign company may not set up a representative's office within the territory of the Republic of China unless an application is filed for the designation of the representative for record.