Payment Terms with Taiwan Packaging Suppliers: What to Expect（台灣包裝供應商付款條件）

Understanding payment terms is essential when working with Taiwan packaging suppliers for the first time. Payment practices in Taiwan’s packaging industry follow established norms built around T/T (Telegraphic Transfer) wire payments, with a deposit-and-balance structure that protects both parties. This guide explains the standard payment structures, banking details you need to know, and practical tips for managing payments smoothly—including around Taiwan’s Lunar New Year shutdown.

Standard Payment Terms in Taiwan

The standard payment structure across Taiwan’s packaging industry is T/T 30% deposit upon order confirmation + 70% balance before shipment. Based on RTADV production data, this 30/70 split is used for approximately 80% of our international orders. The 30% deposit covers raw material procurement—paper stock (art paper 157–350gsm, grey-back white board 300–400gsm), printing plates, and die-cutting molds (NT$2,000–8,000 per mold). The 70% balance is due after the buyer approves production photos or a third-party inspection report, and before the goods leave the factory.

For first-time buyers placing smaller trial orders, some factories may request a 50/50 split instead. As the relationship matures over 3–5 successful reorders, more favorable terms may become available—such as 30/70 with the balance payable within 7 days of shipment, or in rare cases, net 30 terms for high-volume, long-term clients. However, net payment terms remain uncommon in Taiwan’s packaging sector because custom-printed packaging has zero resale value if a buyer defaults.

（中文補充：台灣包裝業標準付款條件為 T/T 30% 訂金 + 70% 出貨前付清。首單小額可能要求 50/50。長期合作客戶（3～5 次成功交易後）有機會談到出貨後 7 天付尾款或月結 30 天，但月結在客製包裝行業並不常見。）

Payment Methods and Banking Details

Bank wire transfer (T/T—Telegraphic Transfer) is the dominant payment method with Taiwan packaging factories. Payments are made in USD to the factory’s foreign currency account at a Taiwan bank. When your factory sends banking details, you should receive: the bank name (e.g., Bank of Taiwan, Mega International Commercial Bank, or E.SUN Commercial Bank), the bank’s SWIFT/BIC code (Taiwan SWIFT codes typically start with letters like BKTWTWTP, ICBCTWTP, or ESUNTWTP), the USD account number, and the beneficiary name matching the factory’s registered company name. Wire transfer fees from your bank typically range from $15–45 USD per transaction; intermediary bank charges of $10–25 USD may also apply depending on routing.

Some Taiwan suppliers also accept PayPal for smaller orders or sample payments, though a 3–5% surcharge usually applies to cover PayPal fees. Letters of Credit (L/C) are used for very large orders (typically above $50,000 USD) and provide additional security for both parties through bank guarantees. Credit card payments are rarely accepted for production orders.

（中文補充：台灣工廠最常用電匯（T/T），以美元支付至工廠的外幣帳戶。匯款時需確認銀行名稱、SWIFT 代碼（台灣常見如 BKTWTWTP 台灣銀行、ICBCTWTP 兆豐銀行、ESUNTWTP 玉山銀行等）、美元帳號及受款人名稱。小額或打樣費用有些工廠接受 PayPal（加收 3～5%）。）

Tips for Managing Payment Risk

For your first order with a new supplier, consider starting with a smaller order to test quality and reliability before committing to a large payment. Request the factory’s business registration documents (Taiwan company registration number, also called “統一編號” or Tax ID) and bank account details on company letterhead to verify legitimacy. A professional factory will readily provide these documents. The Taiwan Packaging Association (台灣包裝協會) notes that buyers should verify a factory’s Tax ID through Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs online company registry before wiring any deposit.

Always obtain a formal proforma invoice before making payment. The proforma invoice should detail the product specifications, quantities, unit prices, total amount, payment terms (e.g., “T/T 30% deposit + 70% before shipment”), and delivery schedule including sampling (5–7 working days) and mass production (10–15 working days) lead times. Keep all payment receipts and bank confirmation documents as part of your order records.

For orders above $10,000 USD, consider using a Letter of Credit through your bank, which provides a structured guarantee that the factory receives payment only upon presenting conforming shipping documents. While this adds banking fees on both sides, it is a well-established mechanism in Taiwan’s export trade and most Taiwan banks are experienced in handling L/C transactions.

（中文補充：首次合作建議先下小單測試。匯款前請工廠提供統一編號及公司登記資料，可至經濟部商工登記查詢驗證。務必取得正式形式發票（Proforma Invoice），確認所有規格、金額和交期（打樣 5～7 工作天、量產 10～15 工作天）。大額訂單可考慮信用狀（L/C）降低風險。）

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I pay in TWD instead of USD to avoid exchange rate fees?

Paying in TWD (New Taiwan Dollar) is technically possible but rarely practical for international buyers. Taiwan’s foreign exchange regulations require additional documentation for inbound TWD transfers from overseas, and most Taiwan packaging factories quote and maintain their pricing in USD. If you wire TWD, the factory’s bank converts it at the day’s selling rate, which may differ from the rate you expected—creating disputes over the received amount. Based on RTADV production data, fewer than 5% of our international clients pay in TWD, and those who do are typically companies with a Taiwan subsidiary or local bank account. We recommend sticking with USD to keep accounting clean on both sides.

（中文補充：以新台幣（TWD）付款在技術上可行，但對國際買家不太實際。台灣外匯法規對境外新台幣匯入有額外文件要求，且工廠報價以美元為主。如果匯新台幣，銀行以當日賣出匯率換算，可能與預期不同而產生爭議。建議統一用美元付款。）

Q: What happens if my wire transfer arrives during a Taiwan bank holiday?

If your wire transfer arrives at a Taiwan bank on a weekend, national holiday, or during the Lunar New Year bank closure (typically 5–7 consecutive days off in late January or early February), the funds will be held in queue and credited to the factory’s account on the next business day. This is standard SWIFT protocol and does not mean the transfer failed. However, be aware that during Lunar New Year the delay can be significant—if you wire on the day before the holiday, the factory may not see the funds for over a week. To avoid production delays, plan your balance payment to arrive at least 3 business days before the holiday break, or wait until the factory reopens and confirm receipt before expecting shipment scheduling to resume. Taiwan banks also close for national holidays such as Peace Memorial Day (February 28), Tomb Sweeping Day (early April), and Dragon Boat Festival (June).

（中文補充：如果匯款在台灣的週末、國定假日或農曆新年銀行休假期間（通常連休 5～7 天）到達，款項會在下一個工作日入帳。農曆新年期間延遲可能超過一週。建議在年假前至少 3 個工作天完成匯款，或等年後開工確認到帳再安排出貨。）

Q: How do Taiwan factories handle payment when Lunar New Year falls between deposit and balance?

This is a common scenario. If you pay the 30% deposit in December or early January and production is scheduled to complete after Lunar New Year (late January to early February, with factories shut down for approximately two weeks), most factories will complete as much production as possible before the break and finish the remainder after reopening. Based on RTADV production data, we typically ask clients in this situation to pay the 70% balance within 5 working days after we send post-production photos, regardless of whether that falls before or after the holiday. The key is clear communication: confirm the timeline with your factory before the holiday, agree on when production photos will be sent, and set a balance payment deadline that accounts for the break. Avoid situations where the factory finishes production right before the holiday but cannot ship because the balance has not arrived—this ties up warehouse space during their busiest season.

（中文補充：如果訂金在 12 月或 1 月初支付，量產預計跨農曆新年完成，工廠通常會盡量在年前完成部分生產，年後收尾。尾款一般要求在收到完工照片後 5 個工作天內支付。重點是年前確認好時程，避免工廠完工後因尾款未到而無法出貨。）

What RTADV Recommends

At RTADV, we use the T/T 30% deposit + 70% before shipment structure for all new clients, and we believe this is the fairest arrangement for both sides. In our experience, the smoothest transactions happen when buyers wire the deposit promptly after approving the proforma invoice, which allows us to order paper stock (we work with art paper from 157gsm up to 350gsm, and grey-back white board from 300–400gsm) without delay. For the balance payment, we send a full set of production photos and await your written approval before requesting the wire—this gives you confidence that the goods match your specifications. If your order timeline overlaps with Lunar New Year, reach out to us early so we can plan production and payment milestones around the two-week shutdown.

Ready to get started? Submit your packaging inquiry to RTADV or contact us via LINE @rtadv.

Structure Selection Comparison

The table below summarizes common structure types, ideal use cases, and MOQ reminders:

Structure Type	Ideal For	MOQ Reminder
Folding Carton / Flat Bag	Mass retail, mainstream volume	500 units+
Rigid Box / Top-Bottom / Handle Bag	Premium brands, gift boxes	100-300 units+
Drawer Box / Custom Structure	Multi-SKU sets, subscription boxes	300 units+, higher tooling cost
Cylinder / Paper Can / 3D Bag	Cream, fragrance, gift items	200 units+, requires specialist

Material & Surface Finishing Comparison

Material determines the structural strength, texture, and cost. The comparison below covers common options:

Material Type	Ideal For	Cost Note
C2S Art Paper 280-350 gsm	Mid-to-premium mainstream	Stable supply, most cost-friendly
Fine Art / Imported Paper 200-280 gsm	Premium brands, limited editions	Color matching requires sample, longer lead time
FSC Certified / Recycled Paper	ESG sustainable brand positioning	Certification fee, 500 units+
Special Finishing (Foil / Spot UV / Embossing)	Premium gift boxes, brand flagship	Sample required, stacking processes add cost

When This Guide Doesn’t Fit Your Project

This guide covers most starter brands and flexible inventory scenarios, but the following are not the right fit — consider alternative suppliers or materials to avoid procurement delays or budget overruns:

• Single SKU annual volume stable above 50,000 units (direct mass production unit cost is lower; small-batch sourcing is not cost-effective)
• Long-term reorders with unchanged specs (no need to resample for evergreen products; the proposal flow is overkill)
• Pure glass / plastic bottles / metal canister sourcing (paper packaging factory MOQ doesn’t fit; find material-specific specialists)
• Pure accessory sourcing (cards, stickers, manuals, corrugated cartons) — use accessory-specific channels
• 45+ day cross-border ocean freight (paper is moisture-sensitive; consider metal / plastic containers or special treatment)