President Tsai Ing-wen during her 2023 New Year’s address responded to appeals from across the party lines for the central government to disperse surplus tax revenue to every citizen in form of cash or consumption vouchers. The Ministry of Finance pegged 2022 surplus tax revenue at more than NT$450 billion; of which NT$70 billion should be distributed to local governments, leaving NT$380 billion at the disposal of the central government.

The central government will allocate NT$100 billion to support the National Health Insurance system and the labor and the labor insurance system to ease the financial problems facing the two social insurance programs.

President Tsai said that the government is prioritizing the abovementioned items and will strive to share the surplus tax with the people. However, plans must be made in consideration of the current macroeconomic situation to ensure that the funds are used effectively.

[2023-1-1/Liberty Times]