Cash handouts from 2022 tax surplus likely after the Lunar New Year
Cash handouts from 2022 tax surplus likely after the Lunar New Year
2023-01-09
The KMT has been calling for the government to share a portion of a tax surplus with the public before the Lunar New Year this month. However, one KMT lawmaker disagrees with his party, saying that the legislative procedures to distribute the money can’t be completed in time for the holiday, and that payments will come after the holiday is over. Meanwhile, Premier Su Tseng-chang denies that he let the cat out of the bag too soon on cash payments, saying the president had already made a decision on the matter before he announced it.
A draft bill by the KMT calls for cash handouts of NT$10,000 to be distributed to the public before the Lunar New Year. However, one KMT lawmaker says that issuing payments that soon is impossible.
Alex Fai
KMT lawmaker
If we finish the legislative procedures before Jan. 19, then the money will probably be issued after the Lunar New Year holiday.
So far, planned options for issuing handouts include distribution at post offices, through ATM machines, or direct transfers into bank accounts. If the latter option is used, the government will need to set up a system for members of the public to enter their bank account information. Distribution through the post office or ATMs would require coordinating with Chunghwa Post and banks and the administrative work to make that happen could take time.
You Si-kun
Legislative speaker
The legislature’s position is that it will absolutely do its best. As to whether payments before the holiday are possible, I’m not sure.
Local print media has alleged that the rush to distribute the funds was due to President Tsai Ing-wen’s initial hesitations about the cash handouts. However, the issue of handouts was first made public on Jan. 4 by Premier Su Tseng-chang while he was inspecting Tsengwen Reservoir.
Su Tseng-chang
Premier
At the national security meeting held on Dec. 31, Tsai made a clear decision that a portion of the surplus would be split between emergency-use funds and payments to the public. She also requested that the Executive Yuan draft a plan for the money and then announce the plan when appropriate. We’ve been doing all the work involved with this one step at a time.
Su says that Tsai had already discussed the cash handouts with him and other officials internally before he had made the comments.
突襲宣布發現金"先斬後奏"? 蘇揆:作業都一步步來
2023-01-09
6000塊現金何時發？國民黨團今天提出黨版的特別條例，喊話年前普發一萬，但距離過年剩下12天，即使立法完成、預算也通過，要完成行政程序恐怕有難度。還傳出府方本來對發現金持保留態度，是蘇貞昌突襲宣布，但他否認，強調總統就是請政院規劃，適時向外界公布。
國民黨團提出黨版特別條例，要求年前就普發一萬元，但同黨有立委認為年前來不及。
[[立委(國) 費鴻泰]]
“1/19以前把它立法完成，接著發放可能要到年後。”
目前政院規劃的發放方式，包括郵局臨櫃、ATM領錢或是直接匯進戶頭，匯款的話，需要先建置系統讓民眾填寫帳戶；郵局、ATM領錢，需要相關單位配合，行政作業上都需要時間。
[[立法院長 游錫堃]]
“站在立法院(立場)一定全力以赴。(是否有機會在年前發) 這我就不知道。”
平面媒體報導，之所以會這麼趕，就是因為蔡總統原本對發錢態度保留，蘇貞昌卻在1月4日視察曾文水庫時，突襲宣布，讓府方措手不及。
[[行政院長 蘇貞昌]]
“在總統主持的國安會議上已經明白裁示，這1800億元除了預留因應不時之需外，還要全民共享，而且請行政院規畫，適時地向外界公布，所有的作業我們都是這樣一步一步來。”
蘇貞昌反駁突襲說，就怕發現金的美意，變成爭議。
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