Where things stand (June 2025)

	Taiwan entity	U.S. entity
Can open a TikTok Shop Seller-Center account?	No (yet). Taiwan is not on TikTok’s 2025 seller-supported list — the closest option is the “Global/Cross-Border” pilot, which today is limited to Mainland-China & Hong Kong companies and a handful of vetted cross-border partners. (dpl.company)	Yes, in principle—the United States is fully supported, but TikTok has tightened its KYC rules. U.S. entities must now be ≥ 51 % U.S.–owned and chaired by a U.S-passport holder and go through live video verification with a U.S.-based “Primary Business Representative” (PBR). (reuters.com, nvinc.com)

Because of those rules, your Taiwan company cannot register directly, but your U.S. company can—provided you restructure (or partner) so it meets the ownership / PBR requirements.

Two realistic paths you can take

Path	Who it suits	Core actions
1 — Turn your U.S. LLC/C-Corp into a “real” U.S. seller	You’re willing to give a U.S. partner equity/control and can base inventory in the U.S.	● Bring in (or promote) a U.S. citizen as 51 % shareholder + chair.● Appoint that person as PBR (must have SSN/ITIN and join a short live-video KYC call).● Gather verification docs: EIN “CP-575” letter, U.S. utility/lease, U.S. bank statement, passport/driver’s licence of PBR, W-9/W-8 forms.● Open a U.S. returns address & bank account (most sellers use a 3PL or TikTok’s Fulfilled-by-TikTok (FBT) warehouse in LA/Dallas).● Apply at https://seller-us.tiktok.com – approval now takes 2–3 weeks if documents line up.
2 — Sell as a “Cross-Border” merchant via an approved partner/aggregator	You cannot (or don’t want to) meet U.S. ownership rules but still want to test TikTok Shop quickly.	● Work with a TikTok Shop Partner specialised in cross-border onboarding; they register the storefront under their entity and give you operator access (fees 5–15 % GMV).● Ship inventory to the partner’s SEA or U.S. warehouse; they handle FBT prep, tax remittance and buyer support.● Ask partners whether they can register Taiwan-owned brands—policies change often, but several SEA-based partners are already onboarding Taiwan sellers for Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore markets.

Step-by-step if you choose the U.S. route

Entity check-up
- Confirm your company type (LLC / C-Corp) and operating agreement allow adding a U.S. shareholder with ≥ 51 % voting rights.
- Update ownership in state registry and order a fresh Certificate of Good Standing.
Bank & payments
- TikTok only accepts a U.S.-issued checking account (no virtual routing numbers). Set this up or use a 3PL/aggregator’s escrow account.
Logistics
- Cheapest start is FBT – you send bulk cartons to TikTok’s fulfilment centre; they handle pick-pack-ship and free returns. Processing fees run 2.5–5 % + postage.
- Alternative: use a multi-channel 3PL (ShipBob, Deliverr, etc.) and connect via API.
Tax & compliance
- Register for state sales-tax permits in every fulfilment-warehouse state (TikTok and most 3PLs give nexus locations in their docs).
- File 1099-K thresholds and keep product-safety certificates ready; TikTok’s algorithm suspends listings without them.
Apply in Seller-Center
- Choose “Company” → “U.S.”, upload docs, and complete the PBR live call (2–5 min via TikTok App).
- Set up products, shipping template, and return-policy page—those three URLs must appear in verification.
Content & growth
- Once the shop is live, link it to your main Taiwan-managed TikTok account; regional shop ≠ account region, so you can still publish from Taiwan and tag U.S. products.

What not to do

VPN-only registrations – TikTok now cross-checks IP location, bank domicile, and EIN data; mismatches trigger instant rejection.
Fake “borrowed” PBR IDs – you cannot swap PBR later without closing the entire shop.
Ignore U.S. political uncertainty – if ByteDance fails to divest, TikTok Shop U.S. could be suspended in 2025-H2. Diversify to SEA shops or your own Shopify checkout.

Quick FAQ

Q : When will TikTok Shop launch in Taiwan?
A : ByteDance has not announced a date. Industry insiders expect a SEA-plus-Taiwan phase-in after Japan’s launch (Q3 2025), but there is no official timeline. (reuters.com)

Q : Can I market to Taiwan users anyway?
A : Yes—use standard TikTok video + bio link to an external checkout (Shopify, Shopee, etc.). In-app “Shop” tab will not show for Taiwan users until the market officially opens.

Q : Are there agencies that can act as my U.S. PBR?
A : Yes, several compliance firms offer “Verified U.S. LLC + PBR” bundles, but they will insist on real equity transfer or long-term service contracts to stay within the 51 %-ownership rule.

Bottom line

Because Taiwan is still unsupported, your U.S. registration is the key. Decide whether you are comfortable restructuring to meet TikTok’s stricter U.S. rules. If not, partner with an approved cross-border aggregator. Both paths work today; waiting for a direct Taiwan launch could mean missing the current TikTok Shop growth wave.

Tiktok Shop account creation for Taiwanese