The Taipei MRT Frequent Rider Program (台北捷運常客優惠) provides 5%, 10%, up to 15% cash rebates based on monthly cumulative trips on a single smartcard, favoring commuters with single-journey fares under NT$30 or those traveling exclusively by metro; conversely, commuters with single fares of NT$35 or higher, or those transferring daily to city buses, Taiwan Railways (TRA), and YouBike 2.0, save significantly more by purchasing the NT$1,200 TPASS Commuter Pass (TPASS 基北北桃都會通). Deciding whether to tap standard EasyCards or purchase monthly passes in Taipei and New Taipei depends on monthly riding frequencies and fare thresholds.
Important Notice: Taipei MRT adjusted its Frequent Rider program starting March 2025 (2025 年 3 月起) into 5%–15% tiers, calculating trips made with adult fares on identical stored-value cards (EasyCard, iPASS, icash 2.0); credit card contactless payments, Senior, and Charity cards do not accrue rebates.
Taipei MRT Frequent Rider Rebate Tiers and Collection Rules
The Taipei MRT Frequent Rider scheme tallies full-fare rides taken between the 1st and final day of each calendar month on a single card, rebating cash into the card balance across three tiers:
| Monthly Cumulative Trip Count | Cash Rebate Ratio | Effective Fare Discount | Collection Method and Validity Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 10 trips (1～10 次) | 0% (No rebate) | Full price (100%) | Not eligible for cashback. |
| 11 to 20 trips (11～20 次) | 5% | Approx. 5% off (95 折) | Automatically topped up at fare gates starting the 1st of next month (valid for 1 full year). |
| 21 to 40 trips (21～40 次) | 10% | Approx. 10% off (9 折 / 9-fold discount) | Automatically topped up at fare gates starting the 1st of next month (valid for 1 full year). |
| 41 trips or more (41 次以上) | 15% | Approx. 15% off (85 折) | Automatically topped up at fare gates starting the 1st of next month (valid for 1 full year). |
Rebates credit automatically when tapping through ticket turnstiles within 1 year; recover lost registered cards via our EasyCard balance and lost card guide, examine transit pass rules in our TPASS commuter pass guide, and check bike rates with our YouBike 2.0 fare guide.
Frequent Rider Rebates vs TPASS 1200 Monthly Breakeven Analysis
Assuming 22 commute days per month (44 total round trips; 22 天來回 44 趟), spending patterns reveal distinct breakeven advantages:
| Commuting Scenario (22 Days, 44 Trips / Month) | Monthly Baseline Fare | Net Spend After Frequent Rider (15% Rebate) | Comparison vs TPASS 1200 Monthly Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Only: Single Fare NT$20 | NT$880 | NT$748 (rebate NT$132) | Frequent Rider saves NT$452 compared to buying TPASS. |
| Metro Only: Single Fare NT$25 | NT$1,100 | NT$935 (rebate NT$165) | Frequent Rider saves NT$265 compared to buying TPASS. |
| Metro Only: Single Fare NT$30 | NT$1,320 | NT$1,122 (rebate NT$198) | Frequent Rider for work trips; TPASS for weekend leisure. |
| Metro Only: Single Fare NT$35 or More | NT$1,540 or more (1,540 元以上) | NT$1,309 or more (1,309 元以上) | Buying TPASS 1200 is more cost effective. |
| Metro NT$25 Fare + Daily 2-Way Bus Transfer | NT$1,408 (1,408 元 with transfer discount) | NT$1,243 (1,243 元) | Buying TPASS 1200 is more cost effective. |
For multimodal commuters in Taipei and New Taipei, combining metro with feeder buses and YouBike 2.0 pushes monthly fares above NT$1,200, making TPASS the superior option.
