To reduce the financial burden of starting a business and encourage young people to develop their careers in Hualien, the Hualien County Government has launched Taiwan's first Youth Entrepreneurship Business Tax Subsidy Program. The subsidy is based on the business tax legally declared and paid by young entrepreneurs. Eligible applicants may receive up to 50% of their business tax per filing period, with a maximum annual subsidy of NT$100,000 and support available for up to 24 months.

Hualien County Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei stated that young people are a key driving force behind local innovation and economic development. In recent years, the county government has promoted entrepreneurship programs, career exploration initiatives, crowdfunding support, and startup incubation projects to build a comprehensive entrepreneurial ecosystem.

According to the Hualien Youth Development Center, the program was designed by drawing on international entrepreneurship support experiences while addressing local needs. Recognizing the challenges young entrepreneurs face, including rent, labor, equipment, marketing, taxes, and cash flow pressures, Hualien became the first local government in Taiwan to include business tax payments as a subsidy target.

Applicants must be Republic of China nationals aged 18 to 45 and have completed company, business, or tax registration in Hualien County. Businesses must have been established for less than five years, or less than eight years if recognized as a startup enterprise. Additional eligibility requirements apply regarding capital and annual revenue limits.