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A flagged bank account does not mean that police or court proceedings will begin within a fixed number of days.

If your bank account suddenly stops allowing withdrawals or transfers and the bank informs you that it has been designated as a flagged account in Taiwan, you may immediately wonder when the police will contact you, whether a court summons is coming, and how long the investigation will last.

Under Taiwan's banking and criminal procedure rules, there is no universal statutory deadline requiring police to notify an account holder within a specified number of days or months after an account is flagged.

 

Court notifications generally arise after prosecutors file charges and the case enters judicial proceedings, although certain cases may be handled through simplified procedures.

Separately, the ordinary statutory period for a flagged account is two years from the date of notification, with a possible one-time extension of up to one additional year.

➡︎ These three timelines—banking restrictions, police investigation, and court proceedings—must be considered separately.

 

1. Three Different Timelines for Flagged Bank Accounts

 1. When Does a Bank Account Become Flagged? 

Under Taiwan's Regulations Governing the Management of Deposit Accounts and Suspicious or Apparently Abnormal Transactions, a flagged account is a bank account designated following notification from a court, prosecutors' office, or judicial police authority for the purposes of a criminal investigation.

After receiving the notification, the bank must suspend the account's transaction functions. Incoming transfers are generally returned to the remitting bank.

Some account holders discover the restriction when their ATM card, online banking, or over-the-counter banking services suddenly stop working. Others first learn about the restriction through a bank notification.

 

However, a banking restriction does not mean the police have already summoned the account holder or that a court has scheduled a hearing.

There is no single statutory deadline requiring every bank to notify account holders within a fixed number of days in all circumstances.

Account holders should ask their bank whether the restriction concerns a flagged account, a related restricted account, or another type of transaction limitation, and confirm the original reporting authority and notification date.

 

 2. How Long Does It Take to Receive a Police Notice? 

Taiwanese law does not require police to summon an account holder within a fixed period after the account is flagged.Judicial police may notify suspects to appear for questioning while investigating criminal allegations and collecting evidence.

➡︎ If a person fails to appear after receiving a lawful notice without a legitimate reason, police may request that prosecutors issue an arrest warrant under the applicable procedures.

The timing of police contact depends on the investigation.Authorities may need to review victims' transfers, obtain bank transaction records, trace funds, identify the actual account user, or coordinate investigations involving several victims and different jurisdictions.

Consequently, receiving a police notice quickly, receiving one several months later, or not receiving one immediately does not establish whether the case has ended or whether prosecution is inevitable.

 

 3. When Will the Court Send a Summons? 

A flagged account is a banking restriction connected to a criminal investigation. It does not automatically mean that a criminal case has reached the court.

➡︎ In ordinary criminal proceedings, police first investigate and prosecutors then determine whether the available evidence justifies prosecution.A case may result in non-prosecution or deferred prosecution without proceeding to a full criminal trial.

Therefore, there is no fixed period beginning on the date the bank account was flagged within which a court must send a summons.Where an ordinary criminal trial is scheduled, the first trial summons generally must be served at least seven days before the hearing.

This seven-day requirement concerns the interval between service and the hearing date. It does not mean that a court summons must arrive within seven days after indictment.

 

2. Does a Police Notice Mean You Have Been Charged?

 1. Police, Prosecutorial, and Court Notices Have Different Purposes 

■ A police questioning notice generally indicates that investigators want to clarify facts or obtain information.

■ A summons from a prosecutors' office indicates that prosecutors intend to conduct questioning or another investigative procedure.

■ A court summons usually concerns proceedings after the case has entered the judicial stage.

Each document should be checked for the issuing authority, case number, recipient's procedural status, date, and location.

The legal definition of a flagged account concerns notification to a bank during an investigation. It does not mean that the account holder has been convicted.

An account holder may be questioned as a suspect or in another procedural capacity depending on the case.

➡︎ When a person is questioned as a criminal defendant, the Code of Criminal Procedure provides rights including notification of the suspected offense, the right to remain silent, the right to retain counsel, and the right to request investigation of favorable evidence.

 

 2. A Non-Prosecution Decision May Arrive Instead of a Court Summons 

➡︎ If prosecutors conclude that criminal suspicion is insufficient, they must issue a non-prosecution disposition under the applicable provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

A non-prosecution disposition is issued by prosecutors, not by the trial court.

The Code of Criminal Procedure provides that copies of the disposition must be served on the relevant parties, including the defendant and other persons specified by law, within five days after the clerk receives the original disposition.

This is a service requirement connected to the prosecutorial disposition, not a deadline calculated from the date the bank account was flagged.Not receiving a court summons does not automatically mean that prosecutors have decided not to prosecute.

 

 3. Some Cases May Be Resolved Through Summary Proceedings 

Certain criminal cases may be handled through summary judgment procedures when statutory requirements are satisfied.In these circumstances, a court may issue a summary criminal judgment without conducting the ordinary trial process.

➡︎ If an account holder receives a summary judgment or related court document, the applicable appeal period and available remedies should be reviewed immediately.

The absence of an ordinary hearing summons does not mean that a court decision can be ignored.

 

3. How Long Does a Flagged Bank Account Investigation Take?

 1. Why Some Cases Take Longer Than Others 

The duration of a flagged bank account case depends on its complexity.

Relevant factors include the number of victims, transactions, bank accounts, and suspected accomplices, as well as whether the money moved across jurisdictions or overseas.

Investigators may also need records from multiple financial institutions or evidence concerning the transfer of passbooks, ATM cards, passwords, or online banking credentials.Some relatively straightforward cases may show progress within several months.

More complex cases involving multiple victims, extensive financial transactions, or unidentified suspects may take a year or longer.These are general observations rather than guaranteed or official completion periods.

 

 2. Prosecutorial Case Management Deadlines Are Not Automatic Closure Dates 

As reflected in the Ministry of Justice's case-handling guidance applicable as of August 31, 2026, certain investigation periods trigger internal monitoring and case-management measures.

➡︎ These include general investigation cases exceeding one year and certain fraud, breach of trust, or embezzlement investigations outside the economic crime category exceeding one year and six months.

➡︎ These periods are internal administrative standards for monitoring case progress.

They do not mean that prosecutors must automatically close a case, issue non-prosecution, or file charges when the period expires.The relevant calculation also concerns the prosecutors' office receiving the case, not necessarily the date the bank first imposed the restriction.

 

 3. Court Proceedings Have a Separate Timeline 

If prosecutors file an indictment, the case enters court proceedings.

➡︎ The time required for hearings, evidence examination, judgment, and any appeals depends on the complexity of the case and the court's workload.

➡︎ The expiration of a banking restriction does not automatically terminate a pending criminal investigation or trial.

 

4. Does the Two-Year Flagged Account Period End the Criminal Case?

 1. The General Two-Year Restriction Period 

Under the applicable banking regulations, a flagged account designation generally expires two years after the original notification.

➡︎ If the original reporting authority determines that continued restrictions are necessary, it may issue a further notification before expiration.The extension is limited to one occasion and may last for up to one additional year.

This does not mean that police must contact the account holder within two years or that the criminal case must be completed during that period.

A criminal investigation may conclude before the restriction expires, or it may continue after the flagged status has ceased.

 

 2. Can the Account Be Released Before Two Years? 

➡︎ Yes, in appropriate circumstances.

A bank may remove the restriction following a release notification from the original reporting authority or after the legally applicable restriction period expires.

➡︎ If the grounds for the restriction no longer exist, the account holder may contact the original reporting authority to inquire about the release process.

Where the bank continues restricting the account after the expected expiration date, the account holder should ask whether there has been an extension, another flagged account notification, or a separate legal restriction.

 

5. Flagged Bank Accounts vs. Administrative Warning Orders

 1. What Is a Flagged Bank Account? 

A flagged bank account is a banking restriction imposed following notification from a competent judicial or investigative authority.

Its primary function is to restrict transactions involving an account connected to a criminal investigation.The designation does not itself establish criminal guilt.

 

 2. What Is an Administrative Warning Under Article 22? 

Article 22 of Taiwan's Money Laundering Control Act addresses certain circumstances involving the transfer or provision of financial accounts or designated service accounts to other persons.

Where statutory requirements are met, local police authorities may issue an administrative warning.Certain additional circumstances may also result in criminal liability.

A flagged account and an administrative warning may arise from the same underlying events, but they have different legal bases, issuing authorities, consequences, and remedies.

Receiving a banking restriction notice does not automatically mean that an administrative warning has been issued.Similarly, receiving an administrative warning does not mean that prosecutors have filed charges or that a court has convicted the recipient.

 

6. What to Do After Your Bank Account Is Flagged

 1. Confirm the Account's Status With the Bank 

Contact the bank to determine which accounts are restricted, when the restrictions began, and whether the account is formally flagged or subject to another transaction limitation.

Ask for the available information concerning the original reporting authority and relevant case details.

➡︎ If the account holder disputes the flagged designation, the original reporting authority is generally the appropriate authority to contact.

 

 2. Verify Official Notices Through Government Channels 

Once the reporting authority or case information is known, contact the responsible agency using telephone numbers published on official government websites.

Confirm the case number, your procedural status, required appearance date, and documents to bring.Avoid disclosing personal identification information, banking passwords, or verification codes through suspicious links or unverified calls.

 

 3. Preserve Banking and Communication Records 

Keep bank statements, transfer histories, withdrawal records, online banking records, messages, employment documents, trading platform records, and any materials explaining the account's intended use.

➡︎ If another person obtained access to the account, preserve evidence showing when and why the account information was provided, what representations were made, and whether compensation was involved.

Do not delete communications, fabricate documents, or coordinate false statements with other people.

 

 4. Respond Carefully to Police and Prosecutorial Notices 

A lawful police notice or prosecutorial summons should not be ignored.

➡︎ If attendance is genuinely impossible, contact the issuing authority promptly and follow the applicable procedures.

Where questioned as a criminal defendant, the person may exercise the right to remain silent, retain counsel, and request investigation of favorable evidence.

The need for legal representation depends on the amount involved, the account-transfer circumstances, the number of transactions and victims, and the complexity of the investigation.

Preparing the evidence early may be more effective than waiting until an indictment or court summons arrives.

 

7. How to Remove a Flagged Bank Account Restriction

 1. Requesting Release Through the Reporting Authority 

A flagged bank account cannot necessarily be released merely by submitting an ordinary request to the bank.

➡︎ The bank generally relies on a release notification from the original reporting authority or the expiration of the applicable flagged period.

Where a criminal case has resulted in non-prosecution, deferred prosecution, a final acquittal, or another development relevant to the original grounds for the restriction, the account holder may ask the reporting authority to review whether release is appropriate.

➡︎ The relevant documents and procedures should be confirmed with that authority.

 

 2. Multiple Cases May Affect the Release Process 

A single bank account may be connected to several victims, transactions, or reporting authorities.Resolving one case does not necessarily eliminate every outstanding restriction.

The account holder should therefore confirm whether other valid notifications remain.

 

 3. Confirming Release With the Bank 

After the reporting authority issues a release notification, contact the bank to confirm that the restriction has been updated in its system.

➡︎ If transactions remain unavailable, ask whether the bank is awaiting further notification or whether another flagged designation, related account restriction, or judicial seizure remains in effect.

 

8. Frequently Asked Questions About Flagged Bank Accounts in Taiwan

 Q1: Will the police always contact me after my bank account is flagged? 

There is no fixed period within which police must contact every account holder. The timing depends on the investigation. Not receiving a notice does not automatically mean the case has ended.

 Q2: How long after my bank account is flagged will I receive a court summons? 

There is no fixed deadline calculated from the flagged account date. A court summons generally follows the case entering court proceedings, although some matters may be handled through summary procedures.

 Q3: Will a flagged bank account automatically be released after two years? 

The ordinary flagged period expires after two years, subject to a possible one-time extension of up to one year. Other valid restrictions may still affect the account.

 Q4: Does an investigation lasting more than one year mean prosecutors must dismiss the case? 

No. Internal prosecutorial case-management periods do not automatically require non-prosecution or case closure.

 Q5: Will the money in a flagged account automatically be confiscated? 

No. A flagged account designation restricts banking transactions but does not itself constitute a final confiscation judgment. Separate seizure or other legal measures may apply.

 Q6: Why was my account flagged if I only lent it to a friend? 

An account may be flagged because it appears in financial transactions under criminal investigation. Whether the account holder committed fraud, aided fraud, money laundering, or another offense depends on the actual facts and evidence.

 

9. When to Consult a Criminal Defense Lawyer

 1. Why Flagged Account Cases Require Individual Legal Analysis 

Flagged bank account investigations may involve allegations of fraud, aiding fraud, money laundering, or unlawful provision of financial accounts.

➡︎ The fact that an account belongs to a particular person does not automatically establish that person's criminal liability.

A defense should examine how the account was used, whether the account holder knew the purpose of the transactions, whether ATM cards or passwords were transferred, whether compensation was received, and how the money moved.

➡︎ The person's conduct after discovering suspicious activity may also be relevant.

 

 2. Seeking Legal Assistance During Investigation 

Chien Sheng International Law Firm handles criminal matters involving fraud, financial offenses, money laundering, and related investigations.

Where a case involves multiple jurisdictions or Taiwan's Investigation Bureau, defendants should consider whether counsel can assist with reviewing transaction records, organizing communications, evaluating criminal intent, and preparing for questioning.

➡︎ The relevant consideration is the lawyer's ability to analyze the actual case and evidence, rather than advertising claims or search keywords alone.

 

Conclusion: A Flagged Bank Account Does Not Automatically Mean Criminal Prosecution

A flagged bank account can serious financial inconvenience and uncertainty, but the restriction does not automatically mean that the account holder will be prosecuted or convicted.

There is no universal deadline for receiving a police notice or court summons after an account is flagged.

➡︎ The ordinary two-year flagged period concerns banking restrictions and should not be confused with the duration of a criminal investigation or trial.

Account holders should first identify the original reporting authority, confirm their procedural status, preserve relevant financial records, and respond appropriately to official notices.

Where the account has been used by another person or appears in a suspected fraud transaction, timely legal advice may help clarify the evidence and available defense options.

 

※ This article is based on Taiwan's laws and official materials referenced as of October 17, 2026. It provides general legal information only and does not constitute individualized legal advice. Actual procedures, timelines, and outcomes depend on the facts of each case and the law currently in force.