Event report
Tax Seminar: Practical Strategies to Reduce Withholding Tax on Cross-Border Payments
Co-hosted by French Chamber Taiwan and Forvis Mazars Taiwan
On Friday, 18 September 2026, French Chamber Taiwan and Forvis Mazars Taiwan co-hosted a seminar on withholding tax (WHT) leakage on cross-border payments, one of the most commonly overlooked cost drivers for foreign companies operating in Taiwan. Al Chang, Managing Partner and Head of Tax at Forvis Mazars Taiwan, walked attendees through how Taiwan's Income Tax Act allows the standard 20% WHT rate on offshore service payments to be legally reduced to as little as 3–6%.
Al opened by noting that most companies default to withholding 20% on management fees, technical service fees and royalties paid to offshore entities simply because it is the path of least resistance with the tax office, but that the Income Tax Act offers several legitimate routes to bring that rate down. To make the framework concrete, Al ran through a range of real-world scenarios where companies had successfully reduced their WHT exposure.
The 35-minute presentation was followed by a lively Q&A, with attendees probing how the framework applies to their own contract structures and documentation practices.
French Chamber Taiwan would like to extend a special thank you to Al Chang for such an informative, practical and clearly delivered presentation, and to Forvis Mazars Taiwan for co-hosting and partnering with us in shaping, organizing and promoting this event.
Forvis Mazars is an international professional services firm offering Audit & Assurance, Outsourcing, and Tax services. In Taiwan, the Forvis Mazars team combines deep local market knowledge with international standards, helping multinational and local businesses navigate tax compliance, financial reporting, and outsourced operations, a trusted partner for many foreign companies operating in the Taiwan market.
For more information on Forvis Mazars Taiwan's services, reach out to Valentin Spoutil, Head of Growth and Business Support Functions (valentin.spoutil@forvismazars.com).
