As the saying goes, “To do a good job, one must first sharpen one’s tools”. The same applies to tax filing, good preparation makes the whole process smooth and stress-free. Don’t wait until the last minute and end up scrambling. Get the following documents ready in advance so you can complete this annual task with ease. Let’s go through them one by one:
💡Friendly Reminder: Many records can now be automatically retrieved from the filing system using your digital certificate, but keeping a physical or electronic copy of your documents helps you double-check and ensures you don’t miss out on any potential tax deductions!
These serve as the key to verifying your identity and are the first step to accessing the tax filing system. You’ll need at least one of the following commonly used verification methods:
Although the National Taxation Bureau has consolidated most income data for us, it is still recommended to cross-check to ensure nothing is missed, especially for income from different sources.
This is the key to tax savings! Make it a habit to collect and keep these documents throughout the year. They allow you to switch from using the “standard deduction” to “itemized deductions”, helping you save more on taxes. Common documents include:
If you are among the lucky ones eligible for a tax refund, prepare your bank account details in advance (bank name, branch, and account number) so you can enter them directly when filing. Your refund will then be transferred straight to your designated account, saving you the hassle of collecting a check in person.
Financial management is not only about increasing income but also about controlling expenses. Understanding tax knowledge is an essential skill in modern life, especially for young professionals just starting their financial journey.
With rapid technological advancement, tax filing has become increasingly diverse and convenient. From traditional manual filing to completing the entire process with just a few taps, you can now choose the method that best suits your habits and needs. The three main online filing methods currently available are as follows:
| Filing Method |
Eligible Users |
Advantages | Disadvantages |
| 📱 Mobile Tax Filing | Most taxpayers, especially those with simple data and no need for adjustments | ✔ No app installation or card reader required✔ Intuitive process, completed in 5 minutes✔ Auto-fills data, only requires confirmation | ❌ Cannot edit income or dependent information ❌ Does not support itemized deductions (must modify online manually) |
| 💻 Online Web-Based Filing | Those who need to edit or add information, or choose itemized deductions | ✔ Most comprehensive features, allows editing of all information ✔ Suitable for complex filing situations ✔ Supporting documents can be uploaded directly | ❌ Interface relatively complex, requires time to get familiar ❌ Recommended for use on a computer |
| 💾 Desktop Software Offline Filing | Users with unstable internet connections or those who prefer offline operation | ✔ Allows offline editing before final upload ✔ Fully featured, similar to the online version | ❌ Requires separate software installation ❌ Possible software update and system compatibility issues |
In summary, for most salaried employees with simple income sources or those filing taxes for the first time, mobile tax filing is definitely the best choice. Its convenience and speed far surpass other methods. If your situation is more complex, for example, if you need to add or remove dependents or choose itemized deductions, the online web-based filing option, with its comprehensive features, will be your best companion. Regardless of the method you choose, all filings must ultimately be completed through the Ministry of Finance’s Electronic Tax Filing and Payment Service website.
Mobile tax filing has become the new trend, completely overturning the old perception that filing taxes is time-consuming and complicated. The entire process is as simple and intuitive as online shopping. Just follow these five steps, and you’ll master your first tax filing with ease!
First, open the “Electronic Tax Filing and Payment Service Portal” of the Ministry of Finance using your mobile browser, and select the “mobile version”. You will then see three main verification methods:
After logging in successfully, the system will automatically load your personal details, including information about your spouse and dependents. All you need to do is verify that the information is correct. You will also need to enter your contact address and phone number.
This is the most impressive step! The system automatically calculates the amount of tax payable (or refundable) based on your reported income and deduction data. On this page, you can clearly see the breakdown of your total income, exemptions, and deductions. Take a moment to carefully review and ensure that all the details are accurate.
Based on the calculation results, the system will guide you to either the payment or refund page.
Paying taxes is a civic duty, but legal tax reduction is your right. Understanding the various types of deductions is the key to protecting your wallet. Deductions are mainly divided into two categories: “general deductions” and “special deductions”.
This is a simple choice question. The system automatically selects the option most favorable to you, but you can also switch and compare manually. The rule of thumb is straightforward:
Decision guideline: Add up all the receipts for your “itemized deductions”. If the total amount exceeds the “standard deduction”, choose itemized deductions; otherwise, the standard deduction will be more advantageous.
These are deductions available when specific conditions are met and can be claimed in addition to either the standard or itemized deductions. Common types include:
House rental expenses have been moved out of the itemized deductions and are now classified as a special deduction. This is great news for tenants, as even if you choose the standard deduction, you can still claim rental expenses as long as you meet the requirements!
Documents required for filing:
When it comes to the annual income tax filing season, it’s better to face it with confidence than to feel anxious. Through this complete tax filing guide, you’ll realize that as long as you prepare your documents in advance, understand the basic concepts, and make good use of convenient mobile tax filing tools, the entire process is much simpler than you imagine. By clearly understanding the deduction categories that apply to you, you can also save a significant amount in taxes and make your hard-earned money work more efficiently. Start your income tax filing process now and smoothly complete this important annual financial task!
If you realize you missed the filing deadline, make sure to file a “voluntary late return” as soon as possible. As long as you submit your tax return and pay the outstanding taxes before being reported or investigated by the tax authorities, you will only need to pay interest but can usually avoid penalties for underreporting. However, if discovered by the authorities, you will be required to pay the tax owed, plus interest, and may be fined up to three times the amount of the unpaid tax.
You can go to the “Comprehensive Income Tax” section on the Ministry of Finance Electronic Tax Filing and Payment Service website and use the “Filing and Payment Inquiry” function. By entering your ID number and year of birth, you can check whether your tax filing has been completed and view the status of your payment or refund.
If you discover any errors during the filing period (usually from May 1 to May 31), simply upload the corrected information again, the system will use the latest submission as the official record. If the filing period has already ended, you must submit a written correction request to your local National Taxation Bureau branch or office based on your household registration location.
In the “Confirm Tax Amount” step of the filing system, the calculated result will be shown directly. If it displays “Tax Payable” with a positive amount, it means you need to pay taxes. If it shows “Tax Refund”, it means you are eligible for a refund. This final amount is calculated as: (Total Income − Exemptions − Deductions) × Tax Rate − Progressive Difference − Withholding Tax Paid.
