Gyeonggi-do Ends Sales of Paper Import Stamps from the 1st... Replaced by Credit Card Receipts

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] The 'paper revenue stamps,' which have been used as a payment method for various civil service fees such as certificates for the past 66 years, disappeared into history on the 1st.

Gyeonggi Province announced that, according to the 'Gyeonggi Province Revenue Stamp Ordinance' effective from this day, paper revenue stamps will be abolished and replaced with credit card receipts.

Paper revenue stamps are securities issued through the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation since 1956 to pay civil service fees in cash.

Last November, the province prepared an amendment to the 'Gyeonggi Province Revenue Stamp Ordinance,' mainly to stop the sale of paper revenue stamps, and announced that it would be implemented from July 1 this year.

This measure was taken due to the decreased demand for paper revenue stamps following the introduction of other payment methods such as the electronic payment system (Wetax, www.wetax.go.kr), and because the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation stopped issuing paper revenue stamps in 2013.

With the discontinuation of paper revenue stamp sales, revenue stamps will now be replaced by credit card receipts.

Previously, fees for civil services such as construction business registration fees or firearm fees were paid by purchasing revenue stamps and affixing them to related documents. From now on, after paying the fee, attaching the credit card receipt will suffice. However, in this case, cash payment is not allowed, and only credit card payments are accepted.

Although the sale of paper revenue stamps has ended, unused paper revenue stamps purchased before the end can still be used as long as they are not damaged or contaminated.

A provincial official stated, "We will encourage payment methods such as credit cards or electronic payments to resolve administrative inefficiencies and maintain the existing on-site purchase system so that residents can pay fees in the most convenient way."