TACL came to fruition through a group of first-generation Taiwanese American community leaders that were and still are passionate about being a voice for the Taiwanese American community.  TACL is now currently run primarily by 2nd generation Taiwanese Americans, many of whom that were products of the youth programs.

Articles of Incorporation filed by Shih Chou, Henry Hsu, Li-Pei Wu, Shiyuan Wu, and Vincent Chang on January 14, 1985, in Los Angeles, California.  TACL was officially established on July 13, 1985 at its inagural convention.

TACL mobilized coalition called Committee Against Age and Racial Discrimination in fight against Monterey Park City Council over rejection of Senior Citizen Housing complex in 1986.  Coalition also fought against council for instructing police to cooperate with immigration authorities and for its support of the adoption of English as the nation's official language.

National TACL formed in 1990.  Li-Pei Wu was first National President.

1988-1992 - NY, Atlanta, SD, SF, SD, Seattle, Houston, Kansas, and St. Louis Chapters formed.  Taiwanese American Professionals started in 1991 as program of TACL LA Chapter.  First inagural LA TAP banquet held on November 30, 1991.

TACL participated in Census 1990 campaign to strive to include Taiwanese as a check-off category.  Efforts were successful in including Taiwanese as a listed example, under the Other Asian category. 

TACL's Committee for Future Leadership (CFL) published "Taiwanese Americans in the 1990s," a policy report highlighting several important issues to the Taiwanese American Community.    

Summer and winter youth camps sponsored by Los Angeles Chapter held in 1992.

TACL Political Internship started in 1992.

TACL passes two resolutions in 1998 - 1) That the US Bureua of the Census should Disaggregate ALL APA data and 2)  TACL's official position is for the Self Determination of Taiwan.

TACL National Partner for Census 2000.

Taiwanese American Professionals (TAP) revival in 2001 by Peter Chang, and furthered by Teddy Liaw.

TACL supports AB2428, "Kenny's Law": Protecting Hate Crimes Victims authored by Judy Chu.

First Entertainment Internship sponsored by TACL-OC held in 2004.

TACL-SF holdsYoung Ambassador Election Tour in Taiwan in 2004. 

TAP holds 1st Annual Banquet & Casino Night in 2005 honoring Welly Yang for Outstanding Achievement in Cultural Arts.

20^th Anniversary Celebration in 2005.  Li-Pei Wu returned as Keynote speaker.

2007 - TACL supports AB295 bill to aggregate APA data in California, authored by Ted Lieu.

TACL LA Chapter holds 1st Annual Banquet for Scholarship Recipients in 2008 honoring outstanding TACL Alumni Jay Chen and Charles Yu.

Taiwanese American Professionals (TAP) continues Annual Banquet & Casino Night Gala from 2006-2009.  Taiwanese American Achievement Award recipients for 2006 included John Chiang for Pioneer in Public Service; Michelle Krusiec for Pioneer in Cultural Arts.  2007 honorees: Tsuann Kuo for Pioneer in Community Service; Justin Lin for Pioneer in Cultural Arts.  2008: Ted Lieu for Pioneer in Public Service; Vienna Teng for Pioneer in Cultural Arts.  2009: Hochie Tsai for Community Service; Jimmy Tsai for Cultural Arts; Lanhee Chen for Public Service.

New TAP affiliate chapters formed in 2008: SF, SD, Chicago, NY, DC.  Boston formed in 2009.

August 2009, TAYL joins TACL as SF Chapter with camp titled Leading Youth Forward (LYF).

TACL National Partner for Census 2010.

2010 marks 25th Anniversary of founding of TACL.

2010 - High School Network - Junior Taiwanese American Students Association (JTASA) founded. 

List of former National Presidents:  Li-Pei Wu, Cliff Yang, Huey Lin, David Tsay, Jin Yu, Elsa Chen, Robert Liu, Richard Wang, Victoria Tseng, Peter Chang.