The National Tax Service (NTS) opened the 2024 year-end tax settlement simplified service on January 15, allowing employees to conveniently access all necessary income and tax deduction certificates in one place. This year’s service introduces several enhancements aimed at reducing errors and improving user experience. Notably, the quality of AI phone consultation has been significantly upgraded, and a generative AI chatbot is being piloted to provide faster and more accurate responses to inquiries. Additionally, the service now offers more precise guidance regarding dependents who exceed income thresholds, helping to prevent incorrect deductions.
For 2024, the service collects and provides a total of 45 types of documents, up from 42 last year with the addition of three new categories. Newly included are certificates for developmental rehabilitation services and out-of-pocket payments for disability activity support, eliminating the need for individuals with mobility challenges to visit institutions in person. The guidance on dependents exceeding income thresholds has also been strengthened, with clear notifications for those whose income exceeds KRW 1 million (or KRW 5 million in total salary for wage income only). From this year, the service reflects business, other, retirement, and capital gains income reported up to October, ensuring more accurate listings. Data for dependents who exceed the threshold or passed away before December 31, 2024, are automatically excluded.
To ensure prompt responses to year-end tax inquiries, the NTS provides a 24-hour AI phone consultation service. By analyzing previous consultation records and incorporating the latest tax law changes, the accuracy of responses has been improved. This year, a generative AI chatbot is also being piloted, offering multiple channels for resolving questions. An NTS official emphasized, “If you falsely claim deductions using fake donation receipts, you may face unexpected tax disadvantages later, so please carefully check deduction requirements and file honestly.” Inquiries can be directed to the Withholding Tax Division, Hometax2 Officer, or AI Innovation Officer.
Final confirmed data, reflecting any additional or corrected information, will be available from January 20, enabling more accurate year-end tax settlements. If medical expenses are missing or incorrect, they can be reported by January 17, and any omitted documents should be obtained directly from the issuing institution and submitted to the employer. From this year, users must agree to the ‘Pre-Confirmation of Deduction Requirements’ before accessing data. These changes are designed to help employees complete their year-end tax settlements accurately and without errors.
The overhaul of the year-end tax settlement service highlights the practical integration of digital transformation and AI technology in public administration. The introduction of AI consultation and chatbots enables rapid, accurate responses to complex and repetitive queries, greatly enhancing user experience. Furthermore, the refined guidance on dependents exceeding income thresholds increases administrative transparency and prevents improper claims, reinforcing trust in the tax system. Continued digital innovation by the NTS is expected to further improve both convenience and fairness in tax administration for all citizens.