Gyeonggi Province first in Korea to amend local tax system using taxpayer suggestions
Createdd 2016-08-29 Hit 475
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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.”
