Seoul City Offers 10% Discount on Environmental Improvement Charges for Second Term with Prepayment Application by End of March

Seoul's 25 Districts Impose First Installment of Environmental Improvement Charges This Year on Owners of Aged Diesel Vehicles

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 22nd that it will impose the first installment of this year's automobile environmental improvement charges on owners of old diesel vehicles in March and accept early payment declarations until the 30th.

The environmental improvement charge has been implemented since 1992 to impose environmental improvement costs on diesel vehicles (Euro 4 grade or below), which are major sources of air pollution, to encourage voluntary reduction of pollutant emissions and to ensure stable funding for environmental improvement.

The charge amount is calculated based on the vehicle's age, registration area, and engine displacement. The collected charges are used for air and water environment improvement projects, low-emission technology development research, and natural environment conservation projects.

According to the Environmental Improvement Cost Burden Act, the environmental improvement charge is imposed twice a year (March and September). If the second installment is paid together with the first installment within the payment period after early payment declaration, a 10% discount on the second installment can be received.

In particular, the environmental improvement charge is exempted for old diesel vehicles restricted from operation during the fine dust seasonal management period. For the existing January early payment and this March early payment, the system is currently being established, and refunds will be made later according to the overpayment refund procedure.

The payment deadline for the first installment and March early payment of the environmental improvement charge is March 31. Payments can be made via eTax, Seoul City Tax Payment App, bank ATMs, dedicated accounts, ARS, and Internet Giro.

According to the Environmental Improvement Cost Burden Act, vehicles equipped with emission reduction devices are exempt from the environmental improvement charge for three years. Additionally, vehicles owned by national merit recipients, severely disabled persons, and basic livelihood security recipients are eligible for a charge reduction for one vehicle.

Lee Dong-ryul, Director of the Seoul Environmental Policy Division, said, "The environmental improvement charge is imposed on diesel vehicles that emit a large amount of air pollutants based on the polluter pays principle, and the collected charges are used for environmental improvement projects. We ask citizens to actively use the early payment system to receive tax reduction benefits and participate in fine dust reduction."

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