Goyang urges delinquent taxpayers to settle overdue bills before year-end

Goyang Special City (Mayor Min Gyeong-seon) sent out 5,330 overdue-payment notices Wednesday to residents with outstanding non-tax revenue arrears from prior years, as part of an effort to strengthen fiscal soundness and promote fair tax compliance. The total amount in arrears stands at about 15.74 billion won ($11.7 million).

The city warned that prolonged delinquency causes surcharges to snowball, increasing the financial burden on taxpayers, and can ultimately lead to enforcement measures such as the seizure of real estate, bank deposits and wages. It urged residents to clear their arrears before year-end to avoid such penalties.

Recipients of the notices can pay through a variety of channels, including virtual accounts, credit cards, the Wetax online tax payment system using an electronic payment number, and an automated response telephone (ARS) service.

The city said it will monitor payment progress after the notices go out and pursue enforcement action under relevant laws — including seizure of real estate, deposits and wages — against deliberate or repeat offenders. However, it plans to offer installment payment arrangements to those facing genuine financial hardship, encouraging voluntary settlement.

"Non-tax revenue that goes unpaid in the year it is due often carries over and becomes a chronic long-term delinquency," a city official said. "We ask residents to check the notice and pay their arrears promptly before year-end to avoid enforcement measures and other penalties."