New Qing'an 2.0 Sets Anti-Fraud Mechanism for Sham Marriages; Tsung-Chuan Chang: New Plan to Be Submitted by End of June

Central News (CNA reporter Chen Junhua, Taipei, May 15) Legislators are concerned about the loan amount of New Qing'an 2.0 and whether there is identity verification and anti-fraud mechanisms for marriage, childbirth, and housing (marriage-childbirth-housing). Minister of Finance Tsung-Chuan Chang said that the first phase of New Qing'an 2.0 will be completed by July 31. Points that need to be reviewed or corrected during the implementation process will be incorporated into the second phase, and a new comprehensive plan will be submitted by the end of June. The Legislative Yuan's Finance Committee invited Tsung-Chuan Chang to attend and review the amendments to Articles 4 and 17 of the Income Tax Act. A total of 28 amendment bills were submitted by legislators from both the ruling and opposition parties, including proposals to increase the tax-exempt amount or deduction amount for children or dependents, and to amend the listed deduction amount for insurance premiums and the special deduction amount for health check-ups. During questioning, Kuomintang legislator Yuan Kuangheng pointed out that the draft of New Qing'an 2.0 is considering adding a mechanism to exclude the rich, with a proposed annual income cap for borrowers of NT$2 million and a ceiling on the total house price in Taipei City of NT$35 million. He affirmed that limited resources should be left for first-time homebuyers who truly need housing, but expressed concern that since housing prices vary greatly across counties and cities, if the income recognition method for dual-income families and singles is not carefully designed, it could lead to more inequality. Tsung-Chuan Chang said that the first phase of New Qing'an 2.0 will be completed by the end of July this year, with the current maximum loan amount being NT$10 million and the maximum being 80%. During the process, many opinions were raised by various sectors, so when planning the next phase, various opinions will be listened to, and points that need to be reviewed and corrected in the first phase will be incorporated into the second phase. A new comprehensive plan should be submitted by the end of June. Yuan Kuangheng said that in the new version of the scheme, the 'marriage-childbirth-housing' will raise the loan ceiling to NT$15 million to support young people in getting married and raising children, with the maximum loan period being 40 years. However, if divorced during the loan period, the draft does not have a mechanism for withdrawal or identity conversion. If loans are obtained through sham marriages, does the Ministry of Finance have identity verification and anti-fraud mechanisms? Tsung-Chuan Chang said that social patterns are indeed diverse, and in the future, how to achieve the policy of New Qing'an to help people without their own homes to purchase self-occupied housing is the main purpose. During questioning, Kuomintang legislator Lai Shibao pointed out that Taiwan stocks are continuing to rise, and the M-shaped phenomenon in society may continue to worsen. Everyone is rushing into the stock market to 'make money with money'. To curb this situation, the special deduction for salaries should be increased to encourage people not to quit their jobs and go to invest in stocks, and not to forget labor income, and to think of ways to make the rich pay more taxes, considering the introduction of a 'wealth tax'. Tsung-Chuan Chang said that the special deduction for salaries will be increased to NT$227,000 next year. As for whether the special sales tax rate (special goods and services tax, commonly known as 'luxury tax') will be adjusted, she said that the Ministry of Finance will study it, 'it won't be that quick, give us three months'. Tsung-Chuan Chang also said that to reduce the tax burden on citizens, especially families with children, the tax-exempt amount for minors will be increased by 50%, that is, for children aged 0 to 18, the tax-exempt amount will be raised from NT$101,000 to NT$151,500, and this will be proposed this month. (Editors: Lin Kelun, Lin Xingmeng) 1150615 Choosing to stand with the facts, every donation you make is a force to safeguard press freedom Download the CNA 'First-Hand News' app to keep up with the latest news This website's text, images, and videos may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.