Presidential office advisor inherits back tax fine

Presidential Office Adviser Wu Po-hsiung (吳伯雄), an alleged supporter of presidential candidate James Soong (宋楚瑜), who is suffering a financial scandal, was ordered recently by the tax bureau to pay an NT$5 million fine for overdue taxes.

Taxation officials said Wu's father failed to report a gift tax of NT$50 million, which is liable to a fine of NT$5 million. In addition, Wu must pay an inheritance tax of NT$74 million after his father died in 1995.

As his father's heir, Wu must pay the fine himself. Therefore, the total tax he needs to pay for the inheritance is NT$129 million.

Responding to media queries about the timing of the back tax revelation given Soong's recent scandal, Sam Wang (?y敢o?s), director of the Department of Taxation, explained it takes time to investigate the large sums of tax claims, adding that the taxation organization is "neutral."

Wu also said the timing of the incident is a coincidence, and requested the media not to politicize the event.

Wu said the family donated NT$30 million in scholarship funds for students in Taoyuan County. The family does not mind paying the overdue tax fine of NT$5 million, said Wu.