The Korea National Tax Service (NTS) has initiated preparations to unify the collection of 284 trillion KRW in non-tax revenue, which has been managed separately by various government ministries under more than 300 laws. On June 12, 2024, the NTS held a launch ceremony for the Non-Tax Revenue Unified Collection Task Force at its Sejong headquarters, marking the official start of system development. This move follows the President’s directive during the 2026 NTS work report to swiftly implement unified management of non-tax revenue. The ceremony was attended by officials from related ministries, highlighting the task force’s role and objectives.
As of the end of 2024, non-tax revenue amounts to 284 trillion KRW, nearly matching the 337 trillion KRW in tax revenue and serving as a vital resource for national finances. Non-tax revenue includes items such as unfair trade fines, environmental regulation charges, and state property usage fees. However, management and collection have been fragmented across agencies, leading to public inconvenience, duplicated tasks, and inefficiency. Notably, unpaid non-tax revenue has surged from 19 trillion KRW in 2020 to 25 trillion KRW in 2024, with differing procedures and limited information sharing hindering enforcement.
Advanced countries like the US and UK have already consolidated their collection channels, and Korea has seen positive results from unified local non-tax revenue and social insurance premium collection. The NTS aims to intensively manage unpaid non-tax revenue and integrate data analysis for both tax and non-tax revenue, significantly boosting collection efficiency. While ministries will retain the authority to impose non-tax revenue, the NTS will centralize collection management, greatly improving payment convenience for citizens. Commissioner Kwang-Hyun Lim urged the task force to pioneer the new system, reflecting public perspectives in its implementation.
Going forward, the NTS will closely collaborate with related ministries to meticulously prepare systems and policies, gradually advancing unified collection to enhance fiscal stability and public convenience. Once the Ministry of Economy and Finance amends the National Bond Management Act, the NTS will review the status of non-tax revenue arrears and actively support the swift enactment of the Non-Tax Revenue Unified Collection Act. The NTS also plans to request necessary personnel and budget, build integrated IT systems, and design workflows to ensure smooth implementation. The agency is committed to creating an efficient and transparent collection system that incorporates public feedback.