Ministry of Interior and Safety, Korea Tax Accountants Association to deploy village tax accountants at traditional markets in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, Busan and beyond
The Ministry of Interior and Safety announced Tuesday that it will run a chuseok-season "village tax accountant" outreach program in partnership with the Korea Tax Accountants Association.
The initiative is designed to bring professional tax consultations directly to local residents and market vendors struggling with complex tax issues, while also boosting consumption and injecting vitality into traditional markets to stimulate regional economies.
Local governments and regional tax accountant associations will hold the outreach events at traditional markets across the country, including in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, Busan, Incheon and Gwangju.
Small business owners, sole proprietors and residents who have had limited access to tax advice will be able to receive consultations on-site.
The village tax accountant system provides free tax counseling to vulnerable groups and small-scale business operators through the voluntary pro bono contributions of participating tax accountants.
Since its nationwide launch in 2016, the program has delivered more than 400,000 free consultations over the past decade. This year, approximately 1,400 new village tax accountants were appointed.
Song Gyeong-ju, director general of the ministry's Local Fiscal and Economic Affairs Bureau, said he hoped the program would ease the burden on residents and small business owners dealing with tax difficulties and help them learn about programs they may not have known existed. "We will continue to work closely with local governments to further strengthen taxpayer rights protection systems, including the village tax accountant program," he said.
thlee@heraldcorp.com
