Sponsored by the Taichung City Economic Development Bureau
With Covid-19 having an increased, significant impact on Taiwan, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) raised the nation to a Level 3 alert status on May 19. On May 23, Taichung City Mayor Lu Shiow-yen held a press conference to announce relief funding for many businesses affected by the current pandemic situation, with the extension of last year’s nine relief plans plus one additional initiative to help those in need. A total assistance budget of over NT$790 million is available for applying businesses, including delayed business rents, young entrepreneur loan and interest payments and night market and marketplace vendor rental fees, plus tax deductions. “Taichung City Government Relief Funds Plus 10 Actions” was unveiled by Mayor Lu, who referred to the central government’s special relief budget proposal of NT$210 billion sent to the Legislative Yuan. During a May 15 pandemic-related meeting, the mayor also aggressively requested funding from this central government budget, as relief is urgently needed with many businesses shutting down due to the current serious situation. This relief plan offers two main benefits: 1) it extends last year’s nine relief policies, allowing for delayed payments of shop rental fees, and delayed loan and interest payments for young entrepreneurs; 2) businesses forced to shut down, including night market and marketplace vendors, can apply for assistance. On top of that, relief funding for many artistic performance groups and hot springs businesses will be processed as well, as part of an overall effort to help residents and win this battle together.
Mayor Lu said that this relief plan could assist with a wide range of financial needs, including basic livelihoods and arts and culture events. Measures include: 1. Rent-free benefits for all night markets and marketplaces from May 15 to June 8 as one of the measures offered by the city’s Economic Development Bureau, and Tourism and Travel Bureau. 2. The Economic Development Bureau hopes to halve night market and marketplace usage fees between June and September. This measure would also include traditional market merchants and other street vendors, in the hope of reducing their financial burdens.
3. The Economic Development Bureau has also established a special contact window for those in need of relief funds. Established last year, Taichung’s Relief Fund Counseling Office received nearly 2,000 calls over 74 days. In 2021, this service will again offer updated information from the central government and all are welcome to call regarding relief funding, subsidies and referral services.
4. Taichung City Government Water Resource Bureau is offering an installment payment policy for hot springs usage fees this year, with hot springs businesses only needing to pay 20% of fees as a first-time payment for this year.
5. Other city government bureaus are also extending last year’s policy of “delayed payments and budget cuts for BOT, OT and outsourced venue rental fees”. Outsourced venue operators will cooperate with business suspensions in response to the growing pandemic situation, and will provide for royalty and rent reductions, deferred payments and other measures depending on the situation. In addition, for any non-discounted lease of non-public real estate managed by Taichung City Government’s Finance Bureau for business use, rents can be reduced between April 1 and Dec. 31 this year, with a 50% reduction of the general rental rate.
6. Taichung City Government Labor Affairs Bureau is continuing last year’s policy and has introduced the “Involuntarily Unemployed Workers’ Living Allowance and Children’s Education Allowance Expansion”. In addition to caring for workers who are unemployed or in difficulty due to this pandemic, it provides an individual living allowance of a one-month basic salary up to a maximum of two months. It also provides subsidies for workers’ children who attend school every month, of NT$5,000 per child in elementary and junior high schools, and NT$8,000 per child in senior high school and college.
7. The Labor Affairs Bureau has launched its “Extension of Interest Subsidies for Youth Entrepreneurship Loans for One Year” initiative to continue last year’s policy and to support young entrepreneurs. As long as the situation caused by the pandemic is stated in writing, this measure will cover interest subsidies for youth entrepreneurship loan applications this year of less than NT$3 million. For applicants enrolled (applying for subsidies) from this January to December, the subsidy period can be extended up to 24 to 36 months after review.
8. The Labor Affairs Bureau is also promoting its “work with peace of mind” policy. In response to unemployed workers during this critical pandemic period, and in addition to providing living and children’s education subsidies, 23 employment service locations in Taichung City provide peace of mind work services so that workers will have extra income during the transition period while seeking employment. Short-term work to maintain one’s livelihood is provided up to a maximum of 80 hours per month, and up to a maximum of six months per person.
9. Taichung City Government’s Local Tax Bureau has launched a “Tax Deferment and Exemption” program. If a business reduces its business-usage area due to reduced business and closes that area during the pandemic period, the housing tax originally levied at a “business” tax rate of 3% can be changed to a “non-domestic” tax rate on a monthly basis. Tax rates are levied at 2% for non-business use or 1.5% for non-business usage at home. During this period, if a company vehicle is not in use, license taxes can also be exempted, while entertainment businesses can receive deductions based on the number of days that they are not operating or entertainment facilities are not in use, with entertainment taxes reduced proportionally.
In addition, businesses or entertainment venues that cooperate with the city government’s anti-pandemic measure of compulsory business suspensions from May 15 will see a reduction of housing tax and suspension of entertainment tax in accordance with a list provided by relevant competent authorities such as the city Economic Development Bureau. Those who are affected by the outbreak and have difficulty making payments of these taxes can apply for an extension of up to a year, or installment payments of up to 36 installments.
10. Taichung City Government Cultural Affairs Bureau has launched its “Performing Arts Relief Subsidy Program”. Performing arts groups registered with the bureau may apply for performance-related project assistance (excluding actual performances), including music creation, script writing, dance creation, and teaching plan research and development. Assistance of up to NT$200,000 per execution plan case for lessons, publications, or filming projects will be granted after approval.
For more information about these relief plans, please visit Taichung City Government’s Economic Development Bureau official website: https://www.economic.taichung.gov.tw/1792622/post ), or call (04) 2228-9111, ext. 31139, 31141, 31142, 31143.
臺中市政府經濟發展局 廣告
新冠肺炎疫情衝擊台灣，中央流行疫情指揮中心19日宣布全國提升至第三級警戒，針對受疫情影響的各行各業，市長盧秀燕23日召開台中市流行疫情指揮中心記者會，盤整市府資源開出「紓困十方」，延續去年「紓困九箭」推出資金紓困單一窗口、委外場館租金權利金延繳、青創貸款利息補貼期限延長等措施，並針對夜市、市集祭出租金免收、租稅減免及緩繳，減收及支出預算總額超過7.9億元，攜手市民度過難關。
「紓困十方！市府紓困開解方！」盧市長表示，中央新增2,100億元紓困特別預算，已送立法院審議，她於5月15日防疫視訊會議中，也積極向中央爭取補助。為因應更險峻的疫情變化，市府盤點強制停業受影響範圍，搶先推出10項紓困方案，擁有兩大特色，一、延續去年紓困九箭政策，如資金紓困單一窗口、委外場館租金權利金延繳、青年創業貸款利息補貼期限延長等政策；二、針對疫情影響須強制停業的店家研擬因應措施，如針對夜市、市集提供租金免收，以及租稅減免及緩繳等措施；另針對藝文團體、溫泉等行業也提出對策，協助市民打贏這場艱困的戰役。
盧市長說，「紓困十方」從經濟、民生及藝文活動等多方面著手，包括：
一、「5/15-6/8夜市或市集配合停業期間租金免收」（經發局、觀旅局），配合防疫停業的夜市或市集，於停業期間免收使用費或租金。
二、「市場及夜市6-9月使用費減半」（經發局），受衝擊的公有零售市場及道路型攤販集中區（非夜市），6至9月使用費減半，道路型攤販集中區（夜市）6-9月免收，減輕市場攤商經濟壓力。
三、「成立資金紓困單一窗口」（經發局），台中去年全國首創「資金紓困協調辦公室」，接獲近2,000通諮詢電話，陪伴民眾走過74個工作天，今年因應疫情重啟服務，即時掌握中央相關部會紓困計畫，提供最新資訊、諮詢及轉介服務，歡迎民眾使用。
四、「溫泉使用費分期繳納」（水利局），今年特別針對觀光產業提供溫泉業者使用費分期繳納措施，第一期僅需繳納2成，有效舒緩業者資金壓力。
五、「BOT、OT及相關委外場館權利金及租金減免或延繳」（各局處），延續去年政策，委外場館因應疫情升溫配合停業，將視情形提供權利金及租金減免、延繳等措施；另承租財政局經管的市有非公用不動產，供營業使用且未享有其他租金優惠者，租金可自今年4月1日至12月31日止減收，減收金額為按一般租金率減收50%。
六、「非自願失業勞工生活補助及子女就學補助擴大辦理」（勞工局），延續去年政策除照顧因疫情衝擊失業或生活困難的勞工，提供生活補助每人每次1個月基本工資，最多2個月，也針對勞工子女就學提供補助，國中小每人5,000元，高中以上每人8,000元。
七、「青年創業貸款利息補貼延長1年」（勞工局），延續去年政策持續支持青年創業，只要書面敘明受疫情影響情形，針對已申請青年創業貸款300萬以內的利息補貼，補貼期限於今年1月至12月到期的申請人，經審查後補貼期限可由24個月延長為36個月。
八、「安心即時上工」（勞工局），針對疫情失業勞工，除提供生活及子女教育補助外，台中市 23個就業服務據點提供安心上工服務，讓勞工朋友在找工作的過渡期，能有一份短期工作維持生計，每月最高核給80小時，每人最長以6個月為限。
九、「稅捐緩繳及減免」（地稅局），針對營業人如因疫情致營業面積縮減、樓層停用部分，原按「營業用」稅率3%課徵房屋稅，可按月改按「非住家非營業用」2%或「住家非營業用」1.5%稅率課徵；車輛停止使用期間可免徵使用牌照稅；查定課徵娛樂業者可扣除未營業天數或未使用娛樂設施按比例減徵娛樂稅。此外，5月15日起配合市府防疫措施強制停業的業者或娛樂場所，將依經濟發展局等相關主管機關提供的清冊，主動減徵房屋稅及停徵娛樂稅。受疫情影響有繳納困難的民眾，可申請延期或分期繳納，最長可延1年、最多可分36期。
十、「表演藝術紓困補助方案」（文化局），只要經文化局登記立案的演藝團體，提送與演出相關計畫內容(不含演出)，包括樂譜創作、劇本編寫、舞碼創作、教案研發、課程、出版或攝錄影的執行計畫，審核通過後每案最高核定20萬元。
「紓困十方」相關資訊，請上台中市政府經濟發展局官網(https://www.economic.taichung.gov.tw/1792622/post)查詢，或撥打電話04-22289111分機31139、31141、31142、31143查詢。