Songpa-gu "Claim Your Local Tax Refund (1.3 Billion Won)!"

Songpa-gu Operates May 'Local Tax Unclaimed Refunds Intensive Clearance Period'... Actively Notifying via Mail, Text, etc.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su) is operating the ‘Local Tax Unclaimed Refunds Intensive Management Period’ until the 31st to return unclaimed refunds that taxpayers have not collected for a long time.

The total number of local tax unclaimed refunds generated over the past five years is 3,245 cases, amounting to 1.309 billion KRW.

The main causes of refund occurrences are ▲ ownership transfer or cancellation after annual prepayment of automobile tax ▲ post-settlement due to national tax correction and year-end tax adjustment ▲ double payment by taxpayers ▲ application for exemption after local tax payment, etc.

Although the district refunds immediately upon occurrence of the cause, most refund amounts are small sums under 50,000 KRW (66.9%), resulting in low taxpayer interest, and many refunds have not been claimed due to unknown addresses, death, or overseas residence.

Accordingly, the district operates the intensive management period twice a year, in the first and second half. Refund notices are sent to the eligible persons, and guidance is provided through various media such as text message services.

Since the right to claim expires if not refunded within five years from the claimable date, active guidance is planned to help recover dormant refunds.

Also, if the refund amount is a small sum of 10,000 KRW or less, a donation notice is sent to encourage donations to the Community Chest of Korea.

Refund inquiry and application can be conveniently made through the ETAX website (etax.seoul.go.kr), WETAX website (www.wetax.go.kr), ARS (1599-3900), phone (☎2147-3763~5), or text message (419-5005).

After application, the refund is paid to the applicant’s account within three days. For those who have outstanding local taxes or non-tax revenues, the overdue amount is first deducted, and the remaining amount is refunded.

Also, if an account is pre-registered on the ETAX or WETAX website, refunds can be made immediately without a separate application when future refunds occur.

For more details, contact the Songpa-gu Tax Administration Division (☎2147-3763~5).

Park Seong-su, Mayor of Songpa-gu, stated, “We will actively guide so that local tax unclaimed refunds are not neglected and are promptly returned to taxpayers,” and added, “We will continue to do our best to enhance taxpayers’ rights and interests as well as to provide transparent and trustworthy tax administration.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.