[2020 National Audit] 144 Model Taxpayers Lost Preferential Benefits Over 6 Years... About 27 People Per Year

Yong Hye-in, Basic Income Party Lawmaker: "144 Model Taxpayers Stripped of Preferential Benefits Due to Tax Evasion"
Half Due to National Tax Arrears

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] It has been revealed that about 27 exemplary taxpayers selected annually have their preferential benefits revoked due to tax evasion and other reasons.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to data received on the 11th from the National Tax Service by Yong Hye-in, a member of the National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee from the Basic Income Party, among 144 exemplary taxpayers over the past six years since 2015, preferential benefits were revoked during regular post-verification due to tax evasion and other reasons. This accounts for 27 out of an average of 480 people per year (5.6%).

Exemplary taxpayers receive preferential benefits such as exemption from tax audits, exemption from tax payment guarantees, use of the Incheon Airport Exemplary Taxpayer Exclusive Business Center, and preferential treatment in loan interest guarantee reviews.

By reason, national tax arrears accounted for 71 cases (49.3%), nearly half, followed by underreported income amount with 31 cases (21.5%), and receipt of false tax invoices with 14 cases (9.7%).

There were also cases where tax evaders caught during tax audits were exemplary taxpayers. According to Yong’s office, since 2016, there have been 26 cases where exemplary taxpayers were audited during the tax audit exemption period and caught, with the assessed additional tax amount reaching 74.3 billion won.

Yong said, “We need to consider imposing strong additional taxes on tax evasion during the exemption period or applying or abolishing tax audit exemptions very restrictively,” urging the National Tax Service to prepare countermeasures.

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