When independent agents, agent companies and banks practicing or operating business, they shall exercise due care of a good administrator to uphold the interests of the insured, ensure that he or she has provided professional explanations to the proposer and made full disclosure of information relating to the major contents of the insurance product of interest and major rights and obligations of the insured, ensure that his or her operating procedures and practices are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and store on and file those documents for future reference.
If the insurance contract is produced by insurance companies in digital insurance policy format, the independent agents, agent companies and banks shall obtain the mobile phone number, email, or other contact method of the applicant and insured deemed as sufficient by the competent authority for transmitting digital documents and provide these information to the underwriting insurance companies.
Agent companies and banks that operate insurance agent business shall draw up internal operating rules and implement them vigorously to make sure their operating procedures and operations are in compliance with relevant laws and regulations. The aforementioned internal operating rules shall include the relevant regulations amended and enforced on September 22, 2022 with regard to the protection of the rights and interests of elderly customers aged 65 and above.

A bank shall establish a mechanism to check the source of funds for premiums paid by a customer, whether it is a loan from the bank, a time deposit at the bank that is canceled early without penalty, a contract termination or a policy loan obtained through the bank that took place within three months prior to the purchase of insurance, and to check whether there is consistency between the customer and the financial information the customer provides for dealings and transactions with the bank.
With the exception of customers purchasing an insurance product that does not require policy value reserve (excluding health insurance products), a micro-whole-life insurance product, an accident insurance product with insurance period of less than three years, or a mortgage life insurance product that does not pay survival benefit, a bank shall, before referring the application document to the insurer to complete the underwriting process, assign a staff not from the sales department to conduct phone call, video call or remote interview to the following customers:
1. For customers whose source of funds for premiums paid is a bank loan, a time deposit canceled early without penalty or a policy loan, the customers shall be clearly informed of associated risks and maximum possible loss.
2. For customers whose source of funding for insurance premiums payment is the termination of a contract, the customers shall be clearly informed of related losses of interests in insurance contracts as a result of the insurance purchase after the termination of the contract.
3. For customers aged 65 and above, the customer shall be asked questions gently around possible disadvantages of the insurance product the customer has purchased to confirm that the customer understands the potential effects and disadvantages associated with the characteristics of the insurance product. However the preceding provision does not apply if the characteristics of the insurance product are not found to have potential effects and disadvantages on customers aged 65 and above after the insurance company makes an evaluation in accordance with Subparagraph 7, Article 6 of the Regulations Governing Pre-sale Procedures for Insurance Products.
When a bank discovers in the phone call, video call or remote interview mentioned in the preceding paragraph that there are situations not complying with the rules or countering the intent of the customer, it shall, before the insurer completes the underwriting process, notify the insurer and the customer to rectify the situation or take actions in the interest of the customer.
A bank shall tape record the entire phone call, video call or remote interview mentioned in Paragraph 2 hereof with the consent of the interviewee and save the recording of phone call, video call or remote interview for future audits. The tape recording shall be retained for a period of not less than five years after the insurance contract has expired or five years from the date the insurer’s decision of not to underwrite the policy is finalized.
The provisions of the preceding four paragraphs apply mutatis mutandis to insurance agent companies invested and established by a financial holding company or a bank.

Independent agents, agent companies and banks shall understand the needs of the proposer and product or service suitability, and sign on relevant documents by seal or other electronic means, unless otherwise prescribed by the competent authority.
The “relevant documents” under the preceding paragraph and Paragraph 1 of Article 33 include, for non-life insurance:
1. Insurance application form.
2. Application for endorsement.
3. Due diligence report on the needs of the insurance proposer and the insured, and product suitability analysis.
4. Application for termination of contract.
5. Other documents designated by the competent authority.
The “relevant documents” under Paragraph 1 and Paragraph 1 of Article 33 include, for personal insurance:
1. Insurance application form.
2. Application for endorsement.
3. Due diligence report on the needs of the insurance proposer and the insured, and product suitability analysis.
4. Application for termination of contract.
5. Other documents designated by the competent authority.
If an agent company or a bank is authorized to collect insurance premiums or to handle underwriting, claim settlement, or other insurance business, it shall confirm the accuracy of various documents relating to its business practice.

Agent companies and banks shall establish check and management procedures for relevant documents under the preceding article.
The insurance agency association shall draw up self-regulatory rules for the check and management procedures mentioned in the preceding paragraph and submit the rules to the competent authority for reference.

Banks that operate concurrently insurance agent business shall comply with the following provisions:
1. Have a sign conspicuously placed at its business place indicating that it engages in insurance agent business;
2. Make clear and enable consumers to understand the distinction between insurance agent business and banking business;
3. Set up or designate a relevant department to handle dispute cases arising out of the insurance agent business;
4. Clearly disclose to customers the nature and risks of insurance products; and
5. Other matters of compliance as required by the competent authority.
Banks shall not commit any of the acts described in the subparagraphs below:
1. Banks shall not use customer deposit information to induce purchase of insurance or recommend insurance products that do not match the customer's risk profile by misleading customer or using improper sales techniques.
2. Banks try to sell insurance products to customers by comparing only the difference in rate of return on time deposit and the insurance product while ignoring the risk characteristics and nature of the product or not disclosing information such as return/risk tradeoff.
3. Authorize bank employees who handle loans and credit or deposits and remittance business to sell investment-linked insurance products or insurance products with surrender value (excluding personal injury insurance and mortgage life insurance with an insurance period of less than 3 years) and receive commissions therefrom; the preceding provision does not apply when the proposer or the insured is the spouse or a direct blood relative of such employee.

The content of publicity and advertising used in insurance solicitation by insurance solicitors or agents employed by an agent company or a bank shall have been approved by the employing company or bank; the employing company or bank shall furthermore duly bear liability.

For any damage suffered by an insurance proposer or insured as a result of any act of negligence, error, or omission by independent agents, agent companies and banks practicing or operating business as authorized under an agency agreement, the insurer that authorized [the agent] shall bear liability for damages according to law.

An insurance agency agreement shall contain at least the following items:
1. Names of the parties.
2. Period of agency.
3. Scope of authority of agency.
4. Commissions standards.
5. Commissions payment method.
6. Legal compliance.
7. Conducts prohibited.
8. Prevention of conflict of interest.
9. Liability for breach of agreement.
10. Dispute resolution.
11. Termination of agreement.
12. Bank account.
13. Other items as required by the competent authority.

An agent company that handles underwriting or claim settlement operations on behalf of an insurer shall have obtained approval from the competent authority and authorization from the insurer, and its underwriters and claim agents shall also comply with the Regulations Governing Business Solicitation, Underwriting, and Claim Adjusting of Insurance Enterprises.

Independent agents, agent companies and banks shall directly deliver to insurers the full premium payments collected from insurance proposers. An independent agent, an agent company and a bank may not deliver premium of an proposer that is paid with a negotiable instrument drawn in the his or her own name.
Where a proposer pays premium with a negotiable instrument not drawn in the name of the proposer, the insured ,or the beneficiary, an agent may not accept the premium payment unless the proposer has issued a statement to the effect.

Independent agents, agent companies and banks shall preserve copies of documents including solicitation, collection, policy-writing, endorsement, claim settlement documents and the termination of contract within the scope under its agency contract or written authorization.
An Independent agent, an agent company and a bank that is authorized by an insurer to collect premiums on its behalf shall preserve collection records and the proof of collecting premiums.
All documents to be preserved under the preceding two paragraphs shall be preserved for at least five years, provided that where otherwise specified by an act or regulation, such other provision shall apply.

An independent agent, an agent company and a bank shall have a fixed place of business that may not be located within the head office or branch office of an insurance company.
Where an agent company and a bank changes any registered item on the company practice license, it shall, within 30 days of the change, submit an amendment registration form and pay the fees set by the competent authority for replacement of the practice license.
Independent agents, agent companies and banks shall display the original of his or her practice license in a prominent location at the place of business.
Independent agents, agents employed by an agent company or a bank shall present the original or a photocopy of his or her practice license and service ID card when soliciting insurance or providing related services.

Independent agents, agent companies and banks shall set up a special ledger to record operating revenues and expenditures and shall compile various business and financial statements and other items prescribed by the competent authority, and submit them to the competent authority or an institution designated thereby between April 1 and May 31 every year; the formats of the statements and other items shall be separately prescribed by the competent authority. However if the fiscal year of the agent, agent company or bank differs from a calendar year, the reporting time limit will be separately set by the competent authority.
The competent authority may from time to time send personnel to inspect the operations and assets and liabilities of independent agents, agent companies and banks or order them to report the status of their operations within a time limit.
With respect to the inspection opinions of the competent authority or deficiencies identified by the competent authority in an inspection, an independent agent, an agent company and a bank shall take specific improvement actions and continue to follow up on the actions taken, and report the implementation of improvement actions to the competent authority within the time limit prescribed by the competent authority. An agent company and a bank shall also submit a written report on the follow-up of improvement actions taken to its board of directors and supervisors or audit committee for review.

The commissions, expenses and costs of an independent agent, an agent company and a bank associated with practicing or operating insurance agency business on behalf of the same insurance enterprise shall be transacted through a single bank account.

After obtaining registration of permission with the competent authority, independent agents, agent companies and banks shall join the agents association.
An independent agent, an agent company and a bank who has not joined the agent association and obtained a membership certificate in accordance with the preceding paragraph may not apply for a practice license to practice or operate business.

When the agents association is established or holds reelection, it shall report its articles of association, a list of members, and a list of directors and supervisors to both the Ministry of the Interior and the competent authority for recordation.
The agents association shall disclose on its website the name, capital, place of business of its member, operating bonds deposited and liability insurance purchased by members companies, the names of insurance enterprises they do business with, and other matters as required by the competent authority.

An agent company that has not been sanctioned by the competent authority within the last one year for violating an act or regulation may apply to the competent authority for approval to establish a branch office.
An agent company that applies for the establishment of a branch office shall employ an agent and submit the following documents to the competent authority for registration of permission:
1. An application form clearly stating the name and location of the branch office.
2. The minutes of the board of directors meeting resolving to establish the branch office.
3. Proof of identity for the designated managers of branch offices and proof of their compliance with the qualification requirements set out in Article 13 herein.
4. A photocopy of the valid practice license of agents employed or certification showing that agents employed meet the qualification requirements set out in these Regulations and any of the following certifications:
(1) Certification of pre-job training, obtained within the past 1 year before submission of the application and recognized by the competent authority;
(2) For an agent whose certification of pre-job training was obtained one year or earlier, the already obtained certification of pre-job training and the certification of at least 18 hours of on-the-job training within the past 1 year before submission of the application. For agents who submit certification of at least 18 hours of on-the-job training within the past 1 year, the courses on laws and regulations taken shall not be less than 8 hours and the courses on fair treatment of customers aged 65 and above shall not be less than 2 hours.
(3) For an agent whose registration of permission is based on the qualifications set out in subparagraph 3, paragraph 1 of Article 5 herein, the certification of at least 18 hours of on-the-job training within the past 1 year, including no less than 8 hours of the courses on laws and no less than 2 hours of the courses on fair treatment of customers aged 65 and above.
5. Proof of identity for agents employed.
6. A written statement by the designated managers of branch office and agents employed undertaking that they are free of the situations set out in subparagraphs 1 through 9 and 12 to 17, paragraph 1 of Article 6.
7. A business plan for the branch office.
8. Other documents as required by the competent authority.
An agent company shall, in the six months of the approval of branch office establishment, submit an application form and a written statement by the manager of branch office and agents employed undertaking that they are free of situations set out in subparagraphs 10 and 11 of paragraph 1, Article 6 herein and employed agents are free of the situation set out in subparagraph 27, Article 49 herein to the competent authority for issuance of a practice license for the branch office.

An agent company meets the following requirements may apply to the competent authority for approval to establish a subsidiary, branch office, or representative office or makes equity investment in a foreign country:
1. The company has shown sound operational performance and secure financial capacity in the three years prior to application; and
2. The company has not been imposed sanction under the provisions of Article 167-2 of the Insurance Act in the one years prior to application, or has been sanctioned but specific remedial actions have been taken therefor and accepted by the competent authority.
When an agent company plans to establish a subsidiary, branch office, or representative office or makes equity investment in a foreign country, relevant provisions of the Regulations Governing Permission of Insurance Business Transactions and Investment Between the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area shall apply mutatis mutandis with respect to required documentation, financial and business management, etc.

Independent agents, agent companies, banks and agents employed by agent companies or banks shall not commit any of the following acts:
1. Make a false representation when applying for a practice license.
2. Operate or practice business operations on behalf of an insurance enterprise that has not been approved and registered.
3. Act on behalf of an insurance enterprise in operating or practicing insurance business operations that have not been approved by the competent authority.
4. Deliberately conceal material matters concerning an insurance contract.
5. Take advantage of his or her professional or business position or use other improper means, with respect to the establishment of a contract, to coerce, induce, or restrict the freedom of an proposer, insured, or insurer, or to collect extra compensation or other benefit from them.
6. Make exaggerated, false, or misleading claims or advertisements or use other improper methods when operating or practicing business or recruiting personnel.
7. Use improper means to incite an insurance customer to take an action such as to surrender insurance, switch insurance policies, or take a loan.
8. Misappropriate or embezzle insurance premiums or policy proceeds.
9. Not practice oneself, but instead provide the practice license for use by another person.
10. Be sentenced to punishment for embezzlement, fraud, breach of trust, or forgery.
11. Operate or practice insurance business outside the scope specified on his or her practice license.
12. Collect, in addition to commissions and expenses set out in the contract, money, articles or other compensations from an insurer in the name of other expense items or of a third party, or engage in uncustomary transactions.
13. By unlawful means, cause an insurer to make an improper insurance claim payment.
14. Disseminate untrue statements or promotional materials, thus disturbing the financial order.
15. Authorize a third party to operating or practicing business on his/her/its behalf, or operating or practicing business in other’s name.
16. In the case of an agent company, refer an application case solicited by an agent not employed by the company or an insurance solicitor not registered under the company to an insurer, or refer an application case solicited by it to an insurer through another insurance broker or agent, unless it is a case from an independent agent who has obtained the written consent of the proposer to the effect in advance.
17. Employ people who do not possess the qualifications of insurance solicitor to solicit insurance business.
18. Fail to surrender or cancel practice license within the time period set out in paragraph 1 of Article 15, Article 26, paragraph 5 of Article 27, or paragraph 3 of Article 28.
19. Suspend, suspend its insurance agent business in part or in whole temporarily, resume, dissolve business or terminate its insurance broker business in part or in whole at own discretion.
20. An agent company or a bank engaging in agent business fails to employ another agent in accordance with Paragraph 2 of Article 7 herein when an employed agent leaves work.
21. Fail to report matters prescribed by the competent authority to the agents association for recordation.
22. The content of advertising related to insurance products and publicity used in insurance solicitation is not provided or consented by the insurer.
23. Pay commissions to insurance solicitors and their supervisors who did not actually perform the business solicitation; however the preceding provision does not apply to payments of renewal commissions to those who take over policyholder services.
24. Fail to confirm the suitability of an insurance product for a specific consumer, including providing unsuitable insurance products to customers aged 65 and above.
25. Sell foreign viatical settlement products that have not been approved by the competent authority.
26. Submit business information and financial statement are untrue or incomplete.
27. Is currently serving as an employee of an insurance enterprise or related industry association, or having been registered as an insurance solicitor.
28. Urge or induce customers to rescind or terminate contracts or pay for insurance premiums by taking out a bank loan, canceling a time deposit or taking out a policy loan.
29. Fill out a solicitation report dishonestly, including the report lack of the statement whether the customers aged 65 and above and purchasing the insurance products other than non-life insurance and micro-insurance has the ability to distinguish situations that are disadvantageous to their rights and interests, reasons why the insurance products is suitable for the customer, and evaluation record. However the preceding provision does not apply if the characteristics of the insurance product are not found to have potential effects and disadvantages on customers aged 65 and above after the insurance company makes an evaluation in accordance with Subparagraph 7, Article 6 of the Regulations Governing Pre-sale Procedures for Insurance Products.
30.Otherwise violate these Regulations or related acts or regulations.
31. Any other act injurious to the image of insurance business.

Agent companies and banks shall produce a compliance manual and appoint a compliance officer to take charge of the planning, management and implementation of its compliance system. The compliance officer shall also report periodically to the board of directors and supervisors or audit committee. In case the agent company is a limited company, the compliance officer shall report periodically to all shareholders.
The compliance manual mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall contain at least the following particulars:
1. Compliance procedures to be adopted by each business.
2. Rules and regulations to be complied with by each business.
3. Procedures for handling violation of rules and regulations.
4. Self-assessment procedure for compliance operation.
The compliance officer may not serve concurrently as an internal auditor.
The appointment, dismissal or transfer of compliance officer shall be reported in a manner designated by the competent authority with confirmation document and record filed and stored.
The planning, management and implementation of compliance system shall include the following:
1. Establish clear and adequate transmission, consultation, coordination, and communication systems with respect to laws and regulations.
2. Ascertain that all operations and management rules are updated in a timely manner in coordination with applicable laws and regulations so that all business activities comply with laws and regulations.
3. Draw up the content of and procedures for compliance-related assessment, conduct self-assessment at least once a year, audit the compliance self-check procedure, and report the audit result to the general manager.
4. Provide employees with adequate and proper training on laws and regulations.

A compliance officer shall carry out the following tasks:
1. Maintain a system for clear and adequate conveyance, counsel, coordination and communication of regulatory requirements;
2. Keep operating and management rules and procedures updated in line with relevant regulations to make sure all business activities comply with regulatory requirements; and
3. Provide adequate and pertinent compliance training to employees;
The working documents related to the tasks in the preceding paragraph shall be kept for at least five years.

The compliance officer of an agent company and a bank shall possess one of the following qualifications:
1. Having the qualification of an insurance agent or broker and having actually performed the work of an insurance agent or broker.
2. Having at least five years of work experience in related business of insurance enterprise, agent company or insurance broker company.
3. Having graduated from college with a degree in finance, insurance or related field, or a degree in law and having at least three years of work experience in related business of an insurance enterprise, an agent company or an insurance broker company.
A compliance officer referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be free of the situations set out in subparagraphs 1 through 10 and subparagraphs 12 through 17, paragraph 1 of Article 6 herein.
At least one of the compliance officers employed by a bank shall meet the qualification requirements set out in paragraph 1 hereof.