Job Discussion Forums

[yamahuh]

A teacher asked me this the other day and I had no idea how to reply, so I'm hoping someone here can shed some light on the topic.

If, for instance, a teacher was hoping to leave the country around August or September of this year - for good - how would they file for and, more importantly, receive the taxes that they had paid in the first 6 months of the year?

I know you can nominate a proxy to pick up your tax refund for you; I used this option myself in my first year here, but filing in 2011 for taxes paid in 2011 generates a refund cheque towards the end of the year (November I think). Not much use if you want to leave in August / September.

Is it possible to file for and receive an expedited refund?
Spending the equivalent (or more) of your tax refund to return to Taiwan to pick it up seems ludicrous. Then again, a couple of grand is a couple of grand and it seems a shame to just leave it sitting in a Taiwanese bank.

Any ideas or suggestions?

[JZer]

The teacher would need to get a copy of his "ping ju dan", from his employer(I believe that is what it is called in Chinese). That is similar to a W2 form in the United States. Then you take it to your local tax office. If the government owns the person in question money they will need to find someone as a proxy and give the tax office that persons name, bank account and address. The money will be transferred to the proxy's bank account the following year at the time everyone else receives their tax returns. If one files their taxes in 2011, the proxy would receive the money in 2012. Usually the money is transferred in August.

[dangerousapple]

Not true. There is an expedited way to get a tax return. I can't remember the exact details, but the tax office can tell you if you call. You need to wait until the week before you leave, I think, then file a special tax form stating that you are leaving and not coming back. They will process a check within 2 or 3 days.

This information was valid as of one year ago, as I helped a teacher do it. I don't know if it's still current.

[TwinStarLA]

Before I left Taiwan in July (2009), I got my tax refund. I had my school prepare my tax paper about a month in advance, and I took that to the tax office in Taipei City. They needed my date of departure, as you can only get your check a day or 2 before you plan to leave. I had to get a Taiwanese person to fill out a short form which basically said that if there is any error, that person is responsible. Also, the Taiwanese person needs to put personal and business stamps on it. So as not to put my Taiwanese friends in an uncomfortable position, I asked the manager of my school to sign the paper. If any error had been made in my taxes, it was the school's fault. She is a very friendly person and readily agreed to do it for me. I took this paper and my flight itinerary back to the tax office. When my check was ready, I received an email stating that I could come and pick it up. At the tax office I had to sign a form saying that I wouldn't request this service for at least 5 years. So, this can't be done yearly. I don't know if things have changed in the past couple of years or if they are handled differently in the county. I hope this helps. I got back almost $2000, so it is definitely worth trying.

[forest1979]

Leaving Taiwan and collecting a tax rebate is as enjoyable as pulling out one's own teeth without anaesthetic.

It's a pain, it puts friends in sticky situations, and its just a downright unenjoyable process.

[JZer]

[TwinStarLA]

You can file your tax return at the tax office early and then pick up the check a couple of days before you leave. I did this a month or 2 in advance and picked up my check right before I left. It didn't take them a month to process it, as they can do this rather quickly, but they wouldn't let me get it until I was about to leave Taiwan. Everyone at the tax office was very friendly and helpful, including sending me an apologetic email in English explaining that I had to wait to get my check. Also, it's best if you can have someone official at your school sign for you rather than putting a Taiwanese co-worker or friend in an awkward position.

[yamahuh]

Great info TwinstarLA - how did you find out about this option?