Gyeonggi Province will gather suggestions from city and county tax divisions from August 16 to September 9

Gyeonggi Provincial Government announced that it will host the ‘Taxpayer Local Tax System Amendment Hearing’. With this new initiative, Gyeonggi Province will become the first local government in Korea to offer taxpayers a chance to submit suggestions on how to improve the taxation system first-hand. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News

Taxpayers can now participate in changing the local tax system and improve it themselves.

On August 16, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government announced that it will host the ‘Taxpayer Local Tax System Amendment Hearing’. With this new initiative, Gyeonggi Province will become the first local government in Korea to offer taxpayers a chance to submit suggestions on how to improve the taxation system first-hand.  

Gyeonggi Province is creating this opportunity in order to amend its taxation system from the ‘taxpayer’s viewpoint’ by gathering viewpoints on any irrationalities in the tax system as well as means to improve the system including acquisition, property, and automobile taxes.  

In doing so, the provincial government intends to establish a taxation system that satisfies taxpayers by giving them the same power as taxation authorities. 

According to Gyeonggi Province, amendments to the existing local tax system were brought forward by officials in charge of taxation at each local government body, creating a system that focuses on tax authorities. Given the fact that only the thoughts of taxation authorities were reflected in the system, it was pointed out that the system was biased towards the tax authority and thus unlikely to undergo significant improvements in terms of system irrationalities. 

As such, Gyeonggi Province will accept suggestions from taxpayers for four weeks from August 16 to September 9 at taxation divisions in each city and county in the province. Taxpayers can submit their suggestions on how to amend the local tax system in person or by post regardless of where they live. Taxpayers can also consult with tax officials prior to submitting their suggestions.  

The Gyeonggi Local Tax Deliberation Committee will examine all submitted suggestions for validity and feasibility. Those that pass the preliminary review will be selected as agenda items for the Taxpayer Local Tax Amendment Hearing scheduled for October 19, where experts will discuss various issues brought forward by taxpayers.  

Gyeonggi Province will consolidate the final list of suggestions that pass the review, request support from relevant legislative entities, and monitor the situation until the suggested items are applied to the tax system. Taxpayers will be kept up to date on the progress in writing from the moment they submit their suggestions. 

Gyeonggi Province Tax Administration Division Director Roh Chan-ho said, “This initiative is significant in that it gives taxpayers the chance to participate first-hand in improving the local tax system.” Roh explained, “We expect this initiative to improve taxpayer satisfaction by giving them the opportunity and power to improve the tax system themselves and not just imposing the responsibility to pay taxes.”