"Unclaimed Small Refunds: Gangnam District Will Visit You Directly"

Gangnam District Intensifies Efforts to Settle 5,703 Cases of Unclaimed Local Tax Refunds
On-site Guidance by Tax Administration Companion Team and Donation Options Now Available

Gangnam District of Seoul (headed by District Mayor Kim Hyun-ki) is intensively organizing the refund of 5,703 cases of local tax refunds that have remained unclaimed for a long time due to their small amounts. Moving beyond the previous methods of notification by mail and text message, the district will now directly contact long-term non-claimants to inform them of refund entitlements, and will also guide them on how to donate small refunds if they wish.

Gangnam District Office Building. Provided by Gangnam District Office.

According to Gangnam District on September 7, there are a total of 9,831 outstanding cases of unclaimed local tax refunds. Of these, 5,703 cases involve refunds of less than 10,000 won, accounting for 58% of the total, and among them, 3,128 cases are for less than 2,000 won. Through this intensified effort, the district aims to proactively locate and distribute even small refunds of less than 10,000 won.

Local tax refunds may arise in cases such as paying annual vehicle taxes and then selling or deregistering the vehicle, paying taxes twice in error, or when national taxes are adjusted resulting in a refund of local income tax as well.

The most significant change in this initiative is the expansion from “sending notifications” to “visiting notifications.” If notification via text message or mail is difficult, a “Tax Administration Companion Team” will visit the recipient’s address or place of business to inform them about the refund and how to apply. If the intended recipient cannot be found, a notification will be placed in the mailbox without disclosing any personal information.

For security reasons, no financial information such as account numbers will be collected on-site. Only the official application channels, such as the department’s phone number and the Seoul ETAX system, will be provided so that taxpayers can complete the refund process themselves.

Taxpayers who wish to share even a small refund with their neighbors may choose to make a donation. Individual taxpayers can go to Seoul ETAX, check for unclaimed refunds, and choose to donate, in which case the money will be contributed to the Community Chest of Korea (“Sarangui Yeolmae”).

District Mayor Kim Hyun-ki stated, “Even a few thousand won is valuable property that taxpayers deserve to get back, so it is the role of the administration to go the extra mile to inform them. We will process refunds quickly and securely, and provide convenient donation options for those who wish to give, ensuring that both taxpayer rights protection and a culture of sharing are promoted together.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.