The National Taxation Bureau of the Northern Area of the Ministry of Finance announced that in response to the 7.2 magnitude Richter scale earthquake that struck Hualien on April 3, the Bureau will proactively lower the assessed sales amount and business tax for business entities whose business tax is assessed by the tax authority in Hualien.

The Bureau emphasized that tourism-related industries are crucial economic drivers in the Hualien region. The earthquake on April 3 caused damage to houses, the closure of the Suhua Highway, and the shutdown of numerous tourist attractions, severely impacting the operational conditions of businesses. In order to alleviate the business tax burden of the business entities affected, the Bureau will adjust the assessed sales amount and business tax for those business entities in the Hualien region according to Paragraph 1, Article 3 of the Regulations for Assessing Business Tax of Certain Business Entities.

The Bureau encourages business entities outside the Hualien region, who are subject to business tax assessments and unable to operate due to the earthquake, to apply to deduct the non-operating days from the assessed sales amounts and business tax. Business entities can visit The National Taxation Bureau of the Northern Area’s website（https://www.ntbna.gov.tw） and access the "0403 Hualien Earthquake Tax Assistance Zone" for relevant information and online application. Alternatively, they can submit the necessary documents to the respective tax office. For any inquiries regarding business tax, individuals can call the toll-free service hotline at 0800-000-321.

〔Contact person for press release: Section Head Chen of Sales Tax Division  Tel: （03） 3396789 ext. 1240〕