To maintain a fair and sound taxation system, the Local Tax Bureau of Taichung City Government will make a thorough check on the house tax registration accounts between February and November in 2015. This inventory check is an annual routine job, said the Local Tax Bureau.

Due to different circumstances, people often change their housing purposes, such as the illegal construction of an attic, the expansion of the first floor in the front or the rear of a building, the addition of a balcony,or the installation of an elevator for a building lower than five stories. As a result, the actual usage of a house does not match the data on its house tax registration account. Moreover, the amendment of Article 5 of the House Tax Act announced on June 4, 2014 has differentiated the applicable tax rates for a self-use residence and a non-self-use residential property. Therefore, the inventory this time will focus on collecting such data as self-use residences, non-self-use residences, and properties for other housing purposes and determining their applicable tax rates. In addition, the current usage of a house will be also checked to see whether the house is eligible for tax exemption or reduction; whether the house is newly constructed, expanded, renovated or changed in usage purposes; and whether the current assessment value of a house needs to be changed. The taxpayer of house tax is advised to declare the current value and usage purpose of his/her house(s)to the branch office of Local Tax Bureau within thirty (30) days after the house is constructed, expanded, renovated or changed in usage purposes, in order to avoid paying more tax or being punished for tax evasion.

During the inventory period, any tax personnel, when visiting a premise, will bear an identification card issued by the Tax Bureau. The taxpayer is pleaded to cooperate and assist the tax officer in conducting the check.

If you have any questions, please visit the website of Local Tax Bureau(http://www.tax.taichung.gov.tw) or call toll-free service hotline 0800-086969 or 04-22585000 ext. 1 for the call center.