27 Dec 2018
Thousands of people surround Ministry of Finance appealing to the minister calling for return of over-collection of tax money on 27 of December. Walls of Ministry of Finance are printed with blood handprints accusing the Ministry of 5 big flaws. The Taiwan yellow vest movement is a result of slowing economy, deepening poverty, low wages, falling birth rates and outflowing foreign capital. The nation is impoverished by excessive taxation. However the government is blinded and moves against the outcry of its people. As such, inspired by the yellow vest movement in France, the Taiwan yellow vest is taking the street demanding immediate reforms and response to the people.
The 5 flaws of Ministry of Finance accused by the protestors are as blow.
- Excessive collection of tax money over the years
- Illegal bonus for collection of tax creating biased incentives for over-collection
- Deposit of 50% of tax amount due in order to file petition a violation of taxpayer’s human rights
- Tax collection based upon administrative notices, not laws passed by legislature
- Never-ending fabricated tax demands
The protesting youth perform an opera revised from story of Zacchaeus the tax collector in Bible. It is expected tax collectors in Taiwan will be guided by their consciences as Zacchaeus was to return people over-collected tax money.
According to legislator, Ministry of Finance allocated NT$130 million bonus per year for rewarding tax agents. Former minister of finance, CHANG, Sheng-Ho said it’s difficult to expect government officers rejecting bribery if the pay check is not big enough. Another former minister said “If we talk about taxpayer’s human rights, then there will be no taxes to be collected.” The office building of National Tax Authority Central District is a nice luxury building funded with taxpayer’s money. Tax officers stay in five star office building while taxpayers struggle to make both ends meet. In addition, Taiwan government tends to build projects with limited use only to waste state coffer.
Many taxpayers oppressed by tax bureau take great risk and march to the street with brave hearts. They cannot stand any more tax collectors who demand people to pay groundless taxes.
The nice luxurious office building of Ministry of Finance cannot block people’s anger. Furious protestors pin on the walls with posters of miserable stories created by tax collectors. They even put on the posters with blood handprints and demand the minister to face the crowd and accept bill of petition. The youth representative urges conference be held to transform the system into a more transparent, equitable and just regime with better protection of taxpayer’s human rights.
The crowd sing “Do you hear the people sing” in the demonstration. However, the Minister did not come out. Chief of Taxation Administration Lee, Chin-Hwa came down with no answers to the protestors’ questions, only to ask the crowd to obey the law. Protestors were disappointed by the saying. The Tai Ji Men case has been ruled innocent with no violation of tax code and no evasion of taxes by three tier court system on 13 July 2007. As such the illegitimate tax demands should have been withdrawn as per court ruling. The people have been hearing the same story from tax administration for 22 years and now they want no more wasting of time. Attorney Tsai indicated that “Article 117 of Administration Procedure Act authorize administration agencies to withdraw administrative orders. Therefore tax bureau is legally allowed to revoke the illegitimate tax decision.” The youth submitted the bill of petition and demanding rectification of the case with no further delay.