On June 12, 2024, Korea’s National Tax Service (NTS) held a launch ceremony for its Non-Tax Revenue Unified Collection Task Force at the Sejong Government Complex. The initiative aims to establish a unified system for collecting 284 trillion KRW in non-tax revenue, which currently includes items such as unfair trade fines, environmental regulation charges, and state property usage fees. These revenues are managed separately by various government ministries under more than 300 different laws, causing inefficiencies and inconvenience for citizens. The task force’s launch follows the President’s directive during the 2026 NTS work report to swiftly implement unified management of non-tax revenue.
As of the end of 2024, Korea’s non-tax revenue stands at 284 trillion KRW, nearly matching the 337 trillion KRW in tax revenue and serving as a crucial fiscal resource. The amount of uncollected non-tax revenue has surged from 19 trillion KRW in 2020 to 25 trillion KRW in 2024, largely due to disparate collection procedures and limited information sharing among agencies. Advanced countries like the US and UK operate unified collection systems, and Korea has already seen positive results from unified local non-tax revenue and social insurance premium collection. The NTS expects that centralizing non-tax revenue collection will improve management of arrears and enhance overall fiscal efficiency through integrated data analysis.
While the authority to impose non-tax revenue will remain with individual ministries, the NTS will centralize collection management, significantly improving payment convenience for citizens. The NTS will collaborate closely with related ministries to meticulously prepare systems and policies, gradually implementing 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 assess the status of non-tax revenue arrears and actively support the swift enactment of the Non-Tax Revenue Unified Collection Act. The agency also plans to request necessary personnel and budget, build integrated IT systems, and design business processes to ensure smooth implementation.
Commissioner Kwang-Hyun Lim emphasized that unified collection is not merely a consolidation of tasks but a step towards more responsible management of national fiscal income and improved public convenience. He urged the task force to pioneer this initiative by reflecting field feedback and public perspectives in the new system. If successful, the unified collection system is expected to greatly enhance fiscal stability and payment convenience for citizens. The NTS will continue to strengthen legal and administrative foundations in cooperation with other ministries to maximize the benefits of unified collection.