Starting Late This Month, the Same Collection Procedures as National Tax Disposition Delinquency Will Be Implemented
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] From the end of this month, when recovering research funds from ICT R&D projects, deposit assets can be preferentially seized and collected without a court order.
On the 28th, the Institute for Information & Communications Technology Planning and Evaluation (IITP) announced that in cases of non-payment of ICT R&D project recovery funds, the same collection procedures as those for national tax delinquency enforcement will be implemented.
Article 11-2, Paragraph 6 of the Framework Act on Science and Technology states, "If a person subject to recovery of project funds does not pay the recovery amount within the deadline, the head of the specialized agency approved by the central administrative agency shall issue a demand with a set deadline, and if payment is still not made within the designated period, collection may be enforced in accordance with the procedures for national tax delinquency enforcement."
If research funds are used improperly, such as for purposes other than intended or by inflating costs, the misused amount will be recovered. Until now, if the executing agency deliberately did not pay the recovery amount, the method used was to obtain a court order for compulsory execution and seize non-deposit assets. Obtaining such an order took 5 to 11 months, and it was often difficult to seize assets because some small and medium enterprises reported suspension or closure of business.
With the improved collection system, IITP can now preferentially seize and collect the deposit assets of executing agencies that have not paid recovery funds without a court order. Property status can be checked through credit information agencies, including credit transaction information (account details, card usage history), and deposit seizure and recovery can be carried out using the electronic deposit seizure service.
If the executing agency whose deposits have been seized pays the overdue recovery funds, the seizure will be immediately lifted, allowing normal use. Additionally, to indirectly enforce payment of recovery funds, there are plans to register delinquent debtors who do not voluntarily fulfill their obligations in a public registry of debt defaulters.
Seok Jebum, President of IITP, said, "We will continuously strengthen collection procedures to ensure that national R&D support funds are not misused and that taxpayers' money is not wasted."
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