Gyeonggi-do to Continue Operating 'Village Tax Accountant and Selection Agent System' This Year

Gyeonggi Provincial Government Gwanggyo New Office Building

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province will continue to operate the 'Village Tax Accountant' and 'Selected Agent System' this year as well.

The Village Tax Accountant system provides free tax consultation through the talent donation of tax accountants to residents who have difficulty using tax accountants, such as those without specialized knowledge of complex tax administration, small business owners, and residents of farming and fishing villages.

Currently, there are 183 Village Tax Accountants active in 31 cities and counties within the province, including Suwon City. Last year, they conducted 12,842 free tax consultations on national and local taxes.

Residents wishing to use the Village Tax Accountant service can check the list of Village Tax Accountants posted on the websites of Gyeonggi Province and the cities/counties, or inquire at the tax departments of each city/county to receive ongoing tax consultations via phone or email.

In addition, the province operates the Selected Agent System for low-income taxpayers who receive local tax bills and want to file objections but do not understand tax laws and cannot afford to hire an agent.

Low-income taxpayers refer to individuals whose comprehensive income amount, including their spouse, is 50 million KRW or less, and whose standard market value of real estate, passenger cars, and membership rights is 500 million KRW or less.

The agents selected by the province include a total of 14 experts: 4 lawyers, 4 certified public accountants, and 6 tax accountants. All of them have more than 3 years of tax experience and have encountered various precedents and cases. The province expects them to serve as practical assistants to taxpayers.

To use an agent, taxpayers must submit a Selected Agent application form to the tax department of the province or city/county when filing a local tax appeal. After reviewing eligibility, the result will be notified within 7 days from the application date.

Choi Won-sam, head of the Taxation Division of the province, said, "We will continue to strive to provide tax administration services that can communicate, empathize, and coexist with taxpayers, such as the Village Tax Accountant and Selected Agent systems, to the residents."