Focusz Taiwan
Date: 10/05/2020
By: Wu Chia-jung and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, Oct. 5 (CNA) Passengers found bringing duty-free cigarettes in excess of the permitted quantity into Taiwan without declaring them will face an increased fine of NT$1,000 (US$34.76) per carton of 200 cigarettes, up from the current NT$500, from 2021, the Ministry of Finance said Monday.

According to the regulations, inbound passengers aged 20 or above are permitted to bring in 200 cigarettes, 25 cigars or a pound (0.45 kilograms) of tobacco duty free, as well as one liter of alcoholic beverage.

Passengers carrying amounts in excess of those amounts must declare them to the customs authorities or face the consequences, according to an official with the ministry's National Treasury Administration.

Since the government raised its tax on cigarettes by NT$20 per pack on June 12, 2017, there is now a huge price difference between taxed and duty-free tobacco products.
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