Taiwan’s president announced that the proposed 2027 budget will set aside NT$235.7 billion (about $7.4 billion) for a universal NT$10,000 (about $314 USD) payment to every person, funded out of higher projected revenue, mostly due to TSMC.
The money is being communicated as an AI dividend to be “shared by all,” crediting global demand for AI for lifting orders and exports across Taiwan’s semiconductor and manufacturing supply chains. The 2026 growth forecast was just raised to 11.05%, which would be Taiwan’s strongest year in 39 years.
He also said the gains have not been felt equally, since many people work outside the booming technology sector in services, traditional industries, and small and medium-sized businesses — the argument for universality rather than targeting.
This would be Taiwan’s third universal cash payment in five years, after NT$6,000 in 2023 and NT$10,000 in 2025, the latter covering citizens, foreign permanent residents, and foreign spouses holding residence permits.
Taiwan Will Pay Every Resident an AI Dividend of NT$10,000 in Its 2027 Budget
