Apple cuts its App Store commission in Taiwan from 30% to 26%
Apple has cut the standard commission it takes from app sales in Taiwan, from 30% to 26%. The lower rate took effect on Saturday, 31 October 2026, for paid apps and in-app purchases on the Taiwan App Store on iOS and iPadOS.
Apple told developers on Thursday, 29 October, that the change followed constructive discussions with Taiwan’s Fair Trade Commission. It updated its Developer Program License Agreement, and said developers did not need to sign it by 31 October to get the lower rate.
The regulator gave its side on Friday, 30 October. It said it had accepted Apple’s commitment and suspended its investigation under Article 28 of Taiwan’s Fair Trade Act, which allows an inquiry to stop when a company commits to fixing the concern. The investigation had looked at whether Apple’s limits on developers, and the commission known as the “Apple tax”, broke the Act. The regulator has not said Apple broke the law. It will keep monitoring compliance and can reopen the case if Apple fails to follow through.
In money terms, the change is small. On a sale of NT$100 at the standard rate, Apple now keeps NT$26 instead of NT$30, and the developer keeps NT$74 instead of NT$70 — about 5.7% more income on the same price. It does not by itself change what a shopper pays, as developers set their own prices.
Why it matters
Taiwan is the latest place where regulators have chipped away at Apple’s 30% commission. Apple had already adopted 26% in Japan and the European Union, and agreed 25% in China. Taiwan’s regulator said the new rate puts Taiwan in line with markets such as Japan and Brazil.
The change is narrower than Apple’s App Store changes elsewhere, which have included alternative app marketplaces and third-party payment options. In Taiwan, this is a rate change only. Even so, NT$4 more in every NT$100 is real money for developers.
What happens next
The 26% rate is now in force, and the Fair Trade Commission will watch whether Apple sticks to its commitment. Translated versions of the agreement are due within a month. The wider question is whether other regulators follow suit, and whether developers pass any saving on to shoppers — nothing in Apple’s announcement requires them to.
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- https://www.macrumors.com/2026/10/29/app-store-fees-taiwan/ (MacRumors, 29 October 2026)
- https://9to5mac.com/2026/10/29/apple-cuts-app-store-commission-in-taiwan-following-regulatory-discussions/ (9to5Mac, 29 October 2026)
- https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/27966/apple-cuts-taiwan-app-store-commission-to-26-after-fair-trade-commission-probe (Inven Global, 30 October 2026)
- https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/10/30/apple-cuts-its-take-of-app-sales-in-taiwan-just-a-bit (AppleInsider, 30 October 2026)
