Letter Taiwan Mailed.pdf

NGOs and academic research centers specializing in freedom of religion and belief are writing to President Tsai Ing-wen regarding a tax case involving Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy, founded in Taiwan in 1966. The case began in 1996 when the Taiwanese government launched a crackdown on groups labeled as "cults," and Tai Ji Men was raided, its leader Dr. Hong Tao-Tze was arrested, and the academy was ordered to dissolve. Despite being acquitted of all charges in 2007, the tax case continued, with the heart of the matter being whether donations to the grand master are tax-exempt gifts or taxable tuition fees. The Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court have ruled in favor of Tai Ji Men, but the National Tax Bureau (NTB) maintains its claim for the year 1992. The writers believe the remaining tax case is an after-effect of a politically motivated campaign and violates freedom of religion and belief, and they urge President Tsai to resolve the case.