Asia - TPE transit with CI - leaving airport

Hey all, I have a 7hr layover coming up in TPE traveling CI. I am planning to leave the airport and catch the bus into Taipei Central and grab some food and a massage.
My question is regarding the TPE airport departure tax. As a transit passenger I assume CI has not added it to my ticket price. Will I need to pay the departure tax when I arrive back at the airport and pass through security/customs?

As a side note CI don't seem to want their transit passengers to leave the airport but sitting around in the CI lounge for 7hrs would be hell. Anyone had any issues doing this?

I've done it multiple times. No problem from immigration on either end, nor was departure tax ever asked for.

Some years ago an EVA office (outside Taiwan, can't remember which one) told me that whether or not you go out of the airport makes no difference from a tax point of view. No tax if your onward flight is within 24 hours, tax if it isn't. The ticket is issued and tax calculated accordingly (with/without stopover).

Hey All,
We left the airport, went into Taipei, walked around for a couple of hours then back out to the airport and no departure tax! All good, no issues, actually very easy. Planning to do it again next time we pass through Taipei.