Nationwide First 'Kakao AlimTalk Delinquency Notification Service' Followed by Active Refund Return with Refund Notice Dispatch... KakaoPay Users Can Check and Apply for Unclaimed Refunds from Receipt
Nowon-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it will be the first in the nation to launch the 'Kakao AlimTalk Refund Notification Service' to protect taxpayers' rights and implement trusted tax administration.
Local tax refunds refer to amounts that taxpayers should receive back due to overpayment caused by prepayment of automobile tax on an annual basis followed by vehicle sale, taxpayer reporting errors, legal amendments, and other reasons.
Over the past five years, there have been 3,417 cases of unclaimed local tax refunds in Nowon-gu, totaling approximately 83 million KRW, with 93.4% of these unclaimed refunds being small amounts under 50,000 KRW, which taxpayers generally overlook.
Accordingly, following the Kakao-based delinquent tax notice service implemented last year, Nowon-gu decided to operate the nation's first Kakao AlimTalk Refund Notification Service to proactively protect taxpayers' rights.
This reflects the characteristic of local tax refunds that require the taxpayer to apply for them, as unclaimed refunds are reverted to the local government's revenue if not claimed within five years according to the Local Tax Basic Act.
The Kakao AlimTalk Refund Notification Service encrypts taxpayers' personal information and sends local tax refund notices. Taxpayers can view the notice through identity verification and apply for refunds via Seoul ETAX (immediate deposit) or the 'Nowon-gu Local Tax Refund' Kakao channel. Notably, refunds through the Kakao channel allow real-time chat with a representative, enabling quick resolution of any refund-related inquiries.
Moreover, even if the taxpayer's phone number is unknown, if the recipient uses 'KakaoPay' (including users of budget phones and overseas carriers), the refund notice can be sent via AlimTalk. This is expected to greatly improve convenience for overseas long-term residents, taxpayers whose registered address differs from their actual residence, foreigners, and others who have had difficulty receiving notices.
In addition, the district is discovering and promoting pioneering projects that contribute to protecting taxpayers' rights and enhancing convenience through innovative ideas, showing concrete results.
Representative examples include the 'Nowon-gu Kakao AlimTalk Delinquent Tax Notice Service' and a nighttime tax consultation office for office workers who find it difficult to visit the district office during weekday daytime hours.
Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, stated, “The right to receive refunds is as important as the obligation to pay taxes. We will continue to actively provide guidance and refunds even for small amounts to realize trusted tax administration.”
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