Services · Company formation
How to open a company in Taiwan as a foreigner
Capital can be any amount, but without Ministry of Economic Affairs approval a foreigner cannot register even a small limited company. We cover the limited company and the company limited by shares, steps and timing, fees from NT$1,000, taxes, the ownership register and a Taiwanese bank account.
Is it worth opening a company in Taiwan in 2026
Taiwan has had no minimum capital for companies since 2009, and profit of up to NT$120,000 a year is not taxed at all. But a foreigner cannot simply file with the registry: first the Department of Investment Review of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (DIR, MOEA) must approve the investment itself. Article 8 of the Statute for Investment by Foreign Nationals requires this, and the current text has no exemption for small amounts.
The local currency is the New Taiwan dollar (NT$, code TWD). Example calculation: at roughly NT$32 to the US dollar, NT$120,000 is about US$3,800 and NT$500,000 about US$15,700.
Who it suits. Buyers of electronics and components from Taiwanese manufacturers who want a local entity for contracts and invoices. Founders who plan to live in Taiwan: in its first year, a foreign-invested company with at least NT$500,000 of paid-in capital can obtain a work permit for its foreign manager. For comparison, in neighbouring Japan the status for business owners has required 30 million yen of capital since 16 October 2025.
Who it does not suit. Anyone looking for zero tax or an anonymous structure: the company reports its directors and major shareholders every year to a platform designated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Anyone unwilling to deal with Chinese: the company name must be chosen in Chinese, and local authorities work in Chinese. And anyone who cannot travel to the island at all: registration can be handled by a local agent, but opening a bank account without visiting the bank is close to impossible. General information on the country is on the Taiwan page.
Limited company or company limited by shares: which to open in Taiwan
A single individual founder in Taiwan can only open a limited company: under Article 2 of the Company Act, a company limited by shares needs at least two shareholders or one corporate shareholder. For a small business the choice therefore usually comes down to two forms, while a branch or representative office is for those who already have a company abroad.
| Form | What it is | Founders and management | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limited company - youxian gongsi (有限公司) | A company whose members are liable only up to their contribution | One or more members. 1 to 3 directors, elected from among the members. No supervisor needed | Sole entrepreneurs, trading and service companies, a first step into the market |
| Company limited by shares - gufen youxian gongsi (股份有限公司) | A joint-stock company with capital divided into shares | Two or more shareholders, or one corporate shareholder. A board of at least 3 directors and at least 1 supervisor, but a non-public company may provide for 1 or 2 directors in its articles | Projects with several partners, investors and employee stock options |
| Closely held company limited by shares (閉鎖性股份有限公司) | A type of company limited by shares with no more than 50 shareholders and share transfers restricted by the articles (Article 356-1) | As for a company limited by shares, with more freedom in the articles | Startups and family companies that want control over who holds shares |
| Branch of a foreign company (分公司) | A unit of a foreign company without separate legal personality | The parent allocates working capital and appoints a responsible person in Taiwan (Article 372) | An established foreign company that wants to sell in Taiwan in its own name |
| Representative office (辦事處) | A liaison office with no right to conduct business | Registered with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and run by a representative of the parent (Article 386) | Market research, sourcing suppliers and quality control |
The law also knows two forms with unlimited liability, but foreign businesses rarely use them. If investors or employee stock options are planned, it is easier to start with a company limited by shares, for example through a foreign parent company: one shareholder is then enough.
How much capital is needed and who can be a director
On paper a Taiwan company can be opened with any amount of capital: the minimum was removed from the Company Act in April 2009. The capital check, however, remains. Under Article 7 of the Act the amount is audited on registration by a local certified public accountant (CPA), and it must cover the cost of setting up the company: government fees, the auditor's work, legal support and office rent.
How much capital to plan for in practice. The benchmark for a foreign owner is NT$500,000 (about US$15,700). That is the paid-in capital a foreign-invested company needs in its first year to obtain a work permit for a foreign manager (a condition set by the Workforce Development Agency). If the goal is the Entrepreneur Visa, one of its routes requires investing at least NT$1 million in an innovative company and holding a management position in it; details are on the Taiwan startup visa page.
Directors. A limited company has 1 to 3 directors, all of whom must be members with full legal capacity, that is aged 18 or over (Article 108). In a company limited by shares, directors and supervisors do not have to be shareholders. The Company Act contains no requirement for a director to be a Taiwanese citizen or resident, and it does not require a company secretary either.
Registered address. A real address in Taiwan is required. The filing includes the owner's consent or a lease and a copy of the latest house tax bill, and in Taipei also a confirmation that zoning allows business use of the premises. Business centre addresses are used for registration when the owner provides these documents.
Name. The company needs a Chinese name, which is checked in advance together with the business scope at the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The business scope matters: some sectors are closed to foreigners or require clearance from the relevant ministry under the Negative List for Investment by Overseas Chinese and Foreign Nationals.
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How to open a company in Taiwan: steps and timeline
The full path for a foreign investor from the name check to a finished company usually takes 8-10 weeks. The longest stage is investment approval: the law gives the authority up to one month, or up to two if other ministries are involved. It can also take 2-4 months, depending on the documents, follow-up questions and the bank.
| Step | Who handles it | Timing and details |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Name and business scope pre-check | Central Region Office, Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) | Usually a few working days. The name must be in Chinese |
| 2. Foreign Investment Approval (FIA) | Department of Investment Review (DIR, MOEA) | By law up to 1 month, up to 2 months if other authorities are involved. In practice, 4-6 weeks |
| 3. Preparatory account and capital remittance | A Taiwanese bank | The account is opened for the company in formation, and the investor transfers the money personally. Many banks expect the founder or future manager in person |
| 4. Investment amount verification | Department of Investment Review | The authority records how much capital actually arrived from abroad |
| 5. Capital audit | A local certified public accountant (CPA) | The CPA issues a capital verification report for the registry |
| 6. Company registration | Administration of Commerce, MOEA, or the government of a major city such as Taipei | The company receives an eight-digit Unified Business Number, its tax ID |
| 7. Tax registration | National Taxation Bureau, Ministry of Finance | Registration for business tax (VAT), after which the company can issue official invoices |
Can it all be done remotely. Applications to the Ministry of Economic Affairs can be filed by an agent in Taiwan under a power of attorney. The passport, power of attorney and the corporate founder's documents are notarised for this and legalised at a Taiwan representative office: Taiwan is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille is not accepted. For Russia and Belarus this is the Representative Office in Moscow for the Taipei-Moscow Economic and Cultural Coordination Commission. The weak point is the bank: most banks open the preparatory and the main account only when the responsible person visits, so budget for one trip to Taiwan. If documents need translating, see translations and apostilles.
How much does it cost to open a company in Taiwan
The state charges a token amount to register a company in Taiwan: with capital of up to NT$4 million the fee is NT$1,000, about US$31. The rates are set by the Company Registration Fee Standards (公司登記規費收費準則), adopted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs under Article 438 of the Company Act. The main costs are not fees but the auditor, the agent, document legalisation and the address.
| Cost item | What the rules say | Example calculation |
|---|---|---|
| Name and business scope pre-check | NT$300 per application, NT$150 less if filed electronically | NT$150 online, about US$5 |
| Registration of a company limited by shares | NT$1 per NT$4,000 of paid-in capital, minimum NT$1,000 | Capital NT$500,000: the formula gives NT$125, so the NT$1,000 minimum applies. Capital NT$10 million: NT$2,500, about US$79 |
| Registration of a limited company | NT$1 per NT$4,000 of total capital, minimum NT$1,000 | Same amounts as for a company limited by shares |
| Electronic filing of the registration application | The fee is reduced by NT$300 per application | A saving of about US$9 |
| Registration certificate | NT$200 in Chinese, NT$600 in English | The English version is useful for foreign banks and partners |
Dollar figures are an example at roughly NT$32 to the US dollar. On top of the fees come the auditor's capital verification report, the agent acting under a power of attorney, notarisation and legalisation of documents in the founder's country, a registered address in Taiwan and, if needed, translation of documents into Chinese; we quote the cost of our support after reviewing the documents. A trip to the island to open the bank account should also be budgeted. Other countries can be compared in the company registration section.
The fee is about $31, but without Ministry of Economic Affairs approval there is no company
The law does not forbid registering a company in Taiwan on your own, but a foreign founder first needs Ministry of Economic Affairs approval. Mistakes cost more than the fees: an approval application without a clear investment plan, an auditor's capital report the registry rejects, founder documents without legalisation, a bank that checks owners for months. We prepare the approval application and arrange the auditor's report, document legalisation, registration and the account.
The cost of support depends on the company form and capital; a manager will calculate it in the chat.
Can you buy a ready-made company in Taiwan
Yes. Besides registering a new company, we sell ready-made ones: this saves the time spent on name approval and registration, and the company comes with a history. For a foreign buyer, though, a ready-made company does not skip the key step: buying a stake in a Taiwanese company is also a foreign investment, and, as with a new company, it needs approval from the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA). Without it the deal cannot be registered.
What we check before the purchase. Tax history and absence of debts, filed reports, registration data and the real owners, contracts and staff, if any. In a limited company the other members must consent to the transfer of a stake under the Company Act; in a company limited by shares the share transfer is subject to securities transaction tax.
What happens after the deal. The registration data is updated to the new owner and director, and the company's bank reviews the new owner again: for Russian and Belarusian citizens this review is as strict as opening a new account. We can find a ready-made company for your purpose or compare it with registering a new one - ask Murblz specialists in the chat.
What taxes does a company pay in Taiwan
Taiwan taxes company profit at 20%, but the Income Tax Act gives small amounts a soft landing: profit of up to NT$120,000 a year is exempt, and just above the threshold the tax cannot exceed half of the amount above NT$120,000 (Article 5). The bigger trap is elsewhere: profit left undistributed by the end of the following year attracts an extra 5%.
| Tax | Rate in 2026 | What matters |
|---|---|---|
| Profit-seeking enterprise income tax | 20% | Profit up to NT$120,000 is exempt. A company incorporated in Taiwan is a tax resident |
| Surtax on undistributed earnings | 5% | Charged on profit still retained at the end of the following year (Article 66-9). Branches of foreign companies do not pay it |
| Business tax (VAT) | 5% | A return every two months, even with no sales (Article 35 of the Value-added and Non-value-added Business Tax Act). The simplified 1% regime for small sellers is designed for small sole proprietorships and partnerships; companies do not use it |
| Withholding tax on dividends to non-residents | 21% | The rate without a double tax treaty. Taiwan has no such treaties with Russia or Belarus |
Example calculation. If a company earns NT$150,000 of taxable profit in a year, 20% of the full amount is NT$30,000. But the tax is capped at half of the excess over the threshold: (150,000 - 120,000) / 2 = NT$15,000. The company pays NT$15,000, about US$470. The cap stops mattering from NT$200,000 of profit: above that the tax is the ordinary 20% of the full amount.
If the owner lives in Taiwan and becomes a tax resident there, personal income tax obligations follow. Taxes in the owner's country of citizenship or residence, such as controlled foreign company (CFC) rules, do not disappear either, so Murblz specialists model the structure in advance.
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What a Taiwan company files each year and is there an ownership register
Heavy fines for a small Taiwan company come not only from taxes but also from silence about its owners: failing to report directors and major shareholders costs the director who represents the company NT$50,000 to NT$500,000, and repeated failure up to NT$5 million each time. In serious cases the company's registration can be revoked (Article 22-1 of the Company Act).
Register of officers and major shareholders. Every year from 1 to 31 March the company files, on a platform run by the Taiwan Depository and Clearing Corporation (TDCC) on behalf of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, details of its directors, supervisors, managers and shareholders holding more than 10%: name, nationality, date of birth, ID number and size of holding. Changes must be reported within 15 days.
Tax returns. The income tax return is due within five months of the end of the tax year, that is by 31 May for a calendar year. A provisional payment of half of the previous year's tax is made in the ninth month of the year. The business tax (VAT) return is filed every two months, within 15 days after the period ends, including with zero sales.
Audit. A statutory audit of the financial statements by a CPA under Article 20 of the Act is required if the company's capital is NT$30 million or more (about US$940,000), annual revenue reaches NT$100 million or it has 100 or more employees under labour insurance. A small company only needs bookkeeping: Murblz specialists keep the accounts and file returns together with a locally licensed partner. More on ongoing support is in the audit and reporting section.
Changes of directors, address or capital are registered with the Ministry of Economic Affairs or the city government, and they also carry a fee. If a foreign shareholder puts new cash into the capital, the increase again needs Department of Investment Review approval.
A Taiwan bank account and citizens of Russia and Belarus
Without a Taiwanese bank the company cannot be registered: capital goes into a preparatory account before the company is entered in the registry. Almost all banks require the chairman or director to visit in person, and because of anti-money laundering rules some banks refuse companies with foreign owners or a foreign chairman.
What the bank will want to see. The Department of Investment Review approval, registration documents, the manager's passport, a description of the business, its customers and suppliers, and the source of funds. An Alien Resident Certificate (ARC), Taiwan's residence card, makes the conversation with the bank noticeably easier, but the owner usually does not have one before the company exists. Tax filings and foreign bank statements help. Some banks cut transfer limits for new companies during their first months.
Citizens of Russia and Belarus. Neither the Company Act nor the Statute for Investment by Foreign Nationals bars anyone from opening a company on grounds of nationality. A separate and much stricter regime applies to investors from mainland China, who may only invest in a limited list of sectors. Two other points matter more. First, export controls: since 2022 Taiwan has restricted exports of high-tech goods to Russia and Belarus, in 2024 it widened the list, including machine tools and their parts, and exporting goods on that list requires a permit from the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Second, bank due diligence: each bank decides for itself whether it will work with a client from these countries, and there is no single document pack that works for every bank.
Documents for citizens of both countries are legalised at Taiwan's office in Moscow, whose area covers Russia and Belarus. A realistic plan is to agree on the bank and the document pack first and pay for registration afterwards. Account options for the company are on the business account in Taiwan page, personal accounts on the personal account in Taiwan page.
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What we do
Taiwan needs careful preparation: investment approval before registration, legalisation without an apostille, a Chinese name and a bank that wants to see the manager in person. We handle the organisation, and anything that local rules reserve for licensed professionals is done by our partners in Taiwan.
- we assess whether Taiwan fits the task and say plainly if another country works better;
- we help choose the form (limited company, company limited by shares, branch or representative office) and pick the Chinese name and business scope;
- we prepare incorporation documents and powers of attorney and arrange notarisation, legalisation and translations;
- we prepare the foreign investment application and file documents with the Ministry of Economic Affairs through partners;
- we help with a registered address in Taiwan and the owner's documents for the premises;
- we bring in Murblz accounting and tax specialists and an auditor: capital verification, tax registration, income tax and business tax (VAT) returns, the annual filing on officers and shareholders;
- we prepare a compliance pack for the bank and help open the company account, including planning the bank visit;
- if relocation is planned, we help with a work permit for the manager and with relocation.
Legal representation, meaning filings with authorities on the founder's behalf, disputes and licensing matters, is handled by our partners with a local licence. Other countries are covered in the company registration and company registration abroad sections.
Fees
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Limited company registration (offer, minimum budget) | from $7 580 |
| Turnkey LLC registration incl. corporate bank account | $15 000 |
| Legal address, per year | $6 200 |
| Accounting services, per year | $6 400 |
| Business report preparation, per year | $2 000 |
| Responsible person and shareholder declaration, per year | $1 300 |
| Profit tax calculation and filing, per year | from $810 |
| Bookkeeping for turnover above TWD 10M, per year | $3 800 |
| Mandatory audit for turnover above TWD 30M, per year | $1 300 |
| Office space search (hourly rate) | $440 |
| Murblz agency fee on lease signing (minimum deposit) | $1 600 |
| Payroll processing (1 employee) | $770 |
| Courier delivery of documents | $550 |
| Compliance fee - standard rate (1 individual check) | $770 |
| Compliance fee - each additional individual or Murblz-client entity | $330 |
| Compliance fee - each additional non-Murblz entity | $440 |
| Compliance fee - High Risk companies | $990 |
| Document signing | $220 |
We will calculate online the cost of registering and running your company for the first year.
See also
Business account · Personal account · Investment property · All country programs
FAQ
Can a foreigner open a company in Taiwan?
How much does it cost to open a company in Taiwan?
Can I open a company in Taiwan remotely?
What is the minimum capital for a company in Taiwan?
Which is better in Taiwan: a limited company or a company limited by shares?
What is the corporate income tax rate in Taiwan in 2026?
Can citizens of Russia and Belarus open a company in Taiwan?
Does a company in Taiwan give the right to a residence permit?
Need a company in Taiwan?
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