Opening a Business Firm Without Employees: How Should the Business Owner Enroll in Labor Insurance, Health Insurance, and Labor Pension?

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Opening a Business Firm Without Employees: How Should the Business Owner Enroll in Labor Insurance, Health Insurance, and Labor Pension?

Complete insurance planning guide for sole proprietors and business owners without hired employees

🏥 1. National Health Insurance Regulations (Must Use the Business Firm as the Insured Unit)

Compulsory Insurance Regulations

Even if the business firm does not hire any employees, once incorporation registration is completed, the firm legally becomes a statutory National Health Insurance (NHI) insured unit:

  • Insurance Status: The owner cannot enroll under employee status; they must establish their own business firm as the insured unit and enroll under the status of “Boss / Business Owner”.
  • Dependent Coverage: If dependents (such as a spouse or children) need health insurance coverage, they must also be attached under the owner’s name and jointly enrolled through the firm.

🛡️ 2. Labor Insurance Regulations (Cannot Enroll in One’s Own Business Firm)

Occupational Union Enrollment Path

Since the business firm has not hired employees (fewer than 5 employees), Bureau of Labor Insurance regulations state that commercial firms with fewer than 5 employees are not subject to compulsory labor insurance unit establishment:

  • Unable to Enroll in Own Firm: Because no employees are enrolled in labor insurance, the owner cannot individually apply for labor insurance through their own business firm.
  • Alternative Solution (Occupational Union): If owners wish to enjoy labor insurance seniority and protections, they must enroll privately through a “local occupational union” relevant to their business firm’s operational scope.

💰 3. Labor Pension Contribution Considerations

Restrictions for Businesses Without Employees

Regarding the New Labor Pension System (6% pension contribution):

  • No Employees Means No Compulsory Labor Pension Unit: Because the firm neither employs workers nor has established a labor insurance insured unit, it cannot independently contribute 6% labor pension for the owner.
  • Enrolled via Occupational Union: If the owner participates in labor insurance via an occupational union, the new labor pension regulations allow self-employed workers who actually engage in labor to voluntarily contribute up to 0% to 6% of their labor pension through the union to the Bureau of Labor Insurance.
💡 Taiwan Tax Pro Friendly Reminder:
When a sole proprietorship does not hire employees, it only needs to apply to the National Health Insurance Administration to set up an “insured unit” for the owner (and dependents) to enroll in health insurance; labor insurance must be sought separately through a relevant occupational union. If there are subsequent plans to expand and hire people, you can establish labor insurance and labor pension accounts then!

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