Taipei, Sept. 25 (CNA) Taxpayers in Taiwan are expected to be allowed to use their smartphones to file taxes in 2021, according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

In a hearing held by the finance committee under the Legislative Yuan on Thursday, Finance Minister Su Jain-rong said that as the government continues to promote e-taxation, the MOF plans to allow taxpayers to file taxes using their smartphones in May next year.

May is the annual tax filing season in Taiwan.

Taxpayers would be required to sign up for the MOF's tax filing via smartphone program through the ministry's "Taiwan FidO" app or certify smartphone numbers among other planned methods to file their taxes using a smartphone, Su said.

Since a smartphone has a smaller screen, Su said, initially taxpayers who pay their taxes based on the simple calculation forms issued by the MOF will be eligible to use the new method to file their taxes.

The smartphone filing system will also allow taxpayers to confirm important information such as their income, tax deductions and tax exemptions, Su said.

The MOF estimates about 3.85 million taxpayers will be able to use their smartphones to file taxes next year.

In Taiwan, taxpayers have been able to pay their taxes through the mobile payment systems -- Taiwan Pay and ezPay -- which are linked to many bank payment apps, since 2016.

Su said the move to launch a tax filing service using smartphones is expected to be more convenient for taxpayers and help the government deliver on its promise to provide more comprehensive e-taxation services.

"All you have to is to tap your smartphone," Su said.

Taxpayers using phones powered by Android or iOS operating system will be allowed to register for the new service, he added.