Seocho-gu Establishes ‘Tax Station’ Metaverse Space to Improve Access to Tax Information and Diversify Communication Channels
After Prior Reservation, 20-Minute 1:1 Video Consultations with Tax Experts Available Anywhere; 24-Hour Lecture Viewing in Tax Classroom
‘Comprehensive Local Tax Guide’ Features Seocho Tax Staff Chatting with Visitors, Providing Real-Time Information on Payments and Refunds
Jeon Seong-su, Mayor of Seocho-gu: “Providing Seamless Tax Services through Online and Offline Integration to Offer Practical Help to Residents”
In the rapidly changing tax policy environment, Seocho-gu offers practical assistance to residents through 1:1 video tax consultations and lectures using the metaverse.
Seocho-gu (Mayor Jeon Seong-su) officially launched a tax-specialized metaverse and began full operation of a comprehensive tax information service integrating online and offline channels starting from the 21st.
Accordingly, the district enhances accessibility to tax information by combining existing offline tax administrative services with the metaverse ‘Seocho Tax Station’ and improves user convenience by diversifying communication channels.
‘Seocho Tax Station’ is a compound word of ‘Tax’ and ‘Station,’ referring to a virtual space where Seocho-gu professionally manages taxes. This service is implemented on the metaverse platform ZEP, offering various menus including ▲Tax Consultation Room ▲Tax Lecture Room ▲Comprehensive Local Tax Guide featuring monthly local tax schedules and refund applications.
First, the ‘Tax Consultation Room’ is a space within the metaverse where any Seocho resident can receive 1:1 video consultations with professional tax accountants.
Regardless of location, users can have real-time 1:1 video consultations with tax experts on a pre-reserved date and time using personal information communication devices (smartphones, laptops, etc.). Consultations are held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., each lasting about 20 minutes.
The consultation fields include acquisition tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, gift tax, and national taxes. Reservations can be made via the district office website or phone at least seven days in advance.
Additionally, the ‘Tax Lecture Room’ expands offline explanatory lectures into a virtual space to respond to the rapidly changing tax environment. Lecture videos by tax experts are regularly uploaded considering questions posted on the bulletin board each month and can be viewed anytime 24 hours a day.
Lastly, the ‘Comprehensive Local Tax Guide’ menu provides answers to local tax inquiries. Seocho tax department staff remain on-site as avatars named ‘Seti,’ offering real-time guidance through chat with visitors on everything from tax payments to refunds.
Moreover, users can click on the tax information and tax administration promotion booths to directly check detailed information.
The metaverse can be accessed easily by clicking a URL or scanning a QR code without installing a separate app.
Offline, the district operates ‘Visiting Tax Explanation Sessions’ by region (Seocho area, Bangbae area) this year and personalized close consultations called ‘Tax Concern Resolution Day’ held on the first Saturday of every month.
In addition, the district makes various efforts to ensure no residents are excluded from public tax services, such as publishing the booklet ‘Local Tax Knowledge That Is Helpful to Know.’
Along with this, the district revamped the tax-related menu on the district office website to consolidate dispersed tax information in one place, enhancing readability.
Jeon Seong-su, Mayor of Seocho-gu, stated, “We will make tax information easily accessible through online and offline integration and provide seamless tax services without excluding any residents. We will strive to offer practical help to residents by building an innovative and practical tax metaverse.”
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