Making political donations to politicians or political parties is a common practice of businesses, but a Taipei-based lawyer has warned that donations that break the law could result in a hefty fine.
The Political Donations Act (政治獻金法) states when, how and to whom political donations can be made, lawyer and former prosecutor Weng Wei-lun (翁偉倫) said.
Making a donation outside of those stipulations could result in a fine of twice the amount of the donation, he said.
Photo: Wang Ting-chuan, Taipei Times
For example, only when a politician has registered as a candidate for a local or national election can donations be made, and the total amount of donations made by a business or individual to a single candidate cannot exceed NT$1 million (US$34,678) in the same election period, Weng said.
For firms and individuals who want to make donations to more than one candidate in the same election period, the total cannot exceed NT$2 million, he said.
Donations made by an individual or company to a political party in an election period cannot exceed NT$3 million, and the total amount of all donations to multiple parties in the same election period cannot exceed NT$6 million, he added.
To receive donations, the law stipulates that a politician must be running for president, a seat in the legislature, city or township mayor, county commissioner or borough warden, Weng said.
Those running for re-election can only accept donations within a certain time frame before the end of their term — one year for a president, 10 months for a legislator, eight months for a city mayor or county commissioner, and four months for a township mayor or borough warden — he said, adding that the politician must have registered as an election candidate to accept donations.
“Politicians seeking to accept donations must register a bank account with the Control Yuan to be used specifically for the purpose,” Weng said, adding that those donating must ensure they are sending the funds to that bank account and not the politician’s personal bank account.
Donations of more than NT$100,000 must be made by bank transfer or check, he said, adding that in no circumstances should the donation be given in cash.
Companies prohibited from making political donations include foreign-owned enterprises; businesses in which the government has a more than 20 percent stake; companies facing bankruptcy that have not repaid their creditors; and companies that are in the process of fulfilling government infrastructure contracts, Weng said.
Firms making donations under an alias cannot donate more than NT$10,000, while those run by foreigners or citizens under the age of 20 cannot make donations, he said.
Political donations can be claimed as a tax exemption of up to 10 percent of a company’s annual taxes, or NT$500,000, whichever is lower, Weng said.
If the tax exemption is claimed by the company owner for their personal taxes, the exemption can be up to 20 percent of their annual income, or NT$200,000, whichever is lower, he said.
Donations made to a politician’s personal foundation or an event they are hosting are not subject to the restrictions, but the firm or individual making the donation cannot make a request of the politician in exchange for the donation, he added.
Three batches of banana sauce imported from the Philippines were intercepted at the border after they were found to contain the banned industrial dye Orange G, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday. From today through Sept. 2 next year, all seasoning sauces from the Philippines are to be subject to the FDA’s strictest border inspection, meaning 100 percent testing for illegal dyes before entry is allowed, it said in a statement. Orange G is an industrial coloring agent that is not permitted for food use in Taiwan or internationally, said Cheng Wei-chih (鄭維智), head of the FDA’s Northern Center for
LOOKING NORTH: The base would enhance the military’s awareness of activities in the Bashi Channel, which China Coast Guard ships have been frequenting, an expert said The Philippine Navy on Thursday last week inaugurated a forward operating base in the country’s northern most province of Batanes, which at 185km from Taiwan would be strategically important in a military conflict in the Taiwan Strait. The Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted Northern Luzon Command Commander Lieutenant General Fernyl Buca as saying that the base in Mahatao would bolster the country’s northern defenses and response capabilities. The base is also a response to the “irregular presence this month of armed” of China Coast Guard vessels frequenting the Bashi Channel in the Luzon Strait just south of Taiwan, the paper reported, citing a
A total lunar eclipse, an astronomical event often referred to as a “blood moon,” would be visible to sky watchers in Taiwan starting just before midnight on Sunday night, the Taipei Astronomical Museum said. The phenomenon is also called “blood moon” due to the reddish-orange hue it takes on as the Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, completely blocking direct sunlight from reaching the lunar surface. The only light is refracted by the Earth’s atmosphere, and its red wavelengths are bent toward the moon, illuminating it in a dramatic crimson light. Describing the event as the most important astronomical phenomenon
UNDER PRESSURE: The report cited numerous events that have happened this year to show increased coercion from China, such as military drills and legal threats The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aims to reinforce its “one China” principle and the idea that Taiwan belongs to the People’s Republic of China by hosting celebratory events this year for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the “retrocession” of Taiwan and the establishment of the UN, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said in its latest report to the Legislative Yuan. Taking advantage of the significant anniversaries, Chinese officials are attempting to assert China’s sovereignty over Taiwan through interviews with international news media and cross-strait exchange events, the report said. Beijing intends to reinforce its “one China” principle
RSS