Ministry of Interior and Safety signs MOU with Kakao, Shinhan Bank and others
Local tax refund inquiries and claims available through private apps from December
Local tax services previously limited to government apps will soon be available through private platforms such as Kakao Bank.
The Ministry of Interior and Safety announced Thursday it had signed a memorandum of understanding with local governments, the Korea Financial Telecommunications and Clearings Institute, and private companies to launch a local tax refund inquiry and claim service through private apps.
Parties to the agreement include the ministry, the National Association of Mayors and Governors and the Association of Mayors, County Heads and District Mayors representing local governments nationwide, the Korea Financial Telecommunications and Clearings Institute, BC Card, Samsung Card (Monimo), Shinhan Bank, Industrial Bank of Korea, iM Bank, NH NongHyup Bank, Kakao, Kakao Bank and Kakao Pay.
Until now, residents seeking local tax refunds had to contact their local government directly or log on separately to the Wetax website to check whether a refund had been issued, and could only request payment by bank transfer.
Going forward, users will be able to check for refunds and submit claims in a single step through the private apps they already use, without navigating separate administrative procedures.
The service will link local governments' tax refund data — opened through the ministry's digital service initiative — with the platforms of the Korea Financial Telecommunications and Clearings Institute and participating private companies.
The ministry plans to complete system development and inter-agency integration work based on the agreement and launch the service in December.
Refunds will be payable not only by bank transfer but also as pay-money credits through BC Card, Samsung Card (Monimo) and Kakao Pay.
"This local tax refund inquiry and claim service is significant because it combines public administrative data with private digital technology and services to create changes that citizens can feel in their daily lives," Interior and Safety Minister Yun Ho-jung said. "The ministry will continue to work actively with the private sector to build easy and convenient tax and administrative services that meet the public's expectations."
thlee@heraldcorp.com
