Free Tax Consultation in Seoul for Platform and Freelancer Workers

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 5th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will start offering free tax consultations for platform and freelance workers who face difficulties with tax filing and payment.

Most platform and freelance workers are registered as sole proprietors or self-employed individuals, so they often handle various tax filings and payments, such as comprehensive income tax, by themselves or pay separately for a tax accountant to manage these tasks.

Tax consultations for platform and freelance workers will initially be held twice a week at two Seoul Labor Comprehensive Support Centers located in the Northeast and Southwest areas of Seoul, with different days assigned to each center. Consultations can be made by reservation and conducted either in person or by phone.

Based on an analysis of consultation demand and worker needs, Seoul plans to increase the number of consultation centers and extend consultation hours in the future. Additionally, frequently asked questions and other relevant information will be posted on the Seoul Labor Rights Center website for immediate reference when needed.

The consultation areas cover a wide range of taxes, including income taxes such as comprehensive income tax and capital gains tax, major national taxes like value-added tax, and various local taxes such as acquisition tax and property tax. Consultations are conducted by tax accountants who possess specialized knowledge related to the work characteristics and income of platform and freelance workers. They provide detailed explanations on whether tax filing is required, necessary documents, filing methods, payment procedures, and even tax-saving strategies.

Currently, Seoul operates 20 Labor Comprehensive Support Centers across the city to protect the rights of workers who have experienced unfair treatment or difficulties while working and to provide relief for damages. These centers offer customized consultations for workers, labor law education, and labor awareness improvement campaigns. In January of this year, dedicated support teams for the continuously growing platform workforce were established at the Northeast and Southwest centers to provide tailored support for platform workers with unique employment types and work methods.

Han Young-hee, Director of Labor, Fairness, and Coexistence Policy at Seoul City, stated, “As the non-face-to-face industry grows and the number of platform and freelance workers continues to increase, the city will take the lead in providing systematic tax consultations, payment support, and tax-saving education to prevent these workers from suffering penalties or missing out on refunds due to lack of knowledge about tax filing and payment methods, thereby offering practical assistance.”