Taipei:The central government's proposed 2027 general budget, which incorporates NT$10,000 (US$307.40) cash handouts, has been forwarded to committee review in the Legislative Yuan as of Tuesday.

According to Focus Taiwan, the budget proposal advanced after Premier Cho Jung-tai addressed lawmakers' inquiries regarding the government's spending plan.

The NT$3.92 trillion general budget proposal allocates NT$235.7 billion for the cash handouts, which are to be fully funded by increased tax revenue from growth in technology-related industries amid an anticipated economic growth rate of 11.05 percent in 2026. The government has stated that the handouts aim to allow the public to partake in the benefits of economic growth fueled by Taiwan's flourishing high-tech sector.

Under the Executive Yuan's proposal, eligible recipients would include citizens with household registration in Taiwan, nationals without household registration who have obtained residence permits, foreign nationals with permanent residence permits, and spouses of Taiwanese nationals from China, Hong Kong, Macau, or other countries holding residence permits. Government personnel posted overseas and their dependents would qualify if both hold Taiwan nationality.

In contrast, a competing bill supported by the main opposition Kuomintang, which proposes NT$20,000 handouts, was referred to committee review earlier this month. However, this bill only mentions "eligible individuals" without specifying the eligibility criteria.