Tax reimbursements more than double in 2015

The amount of tax reimbursements more than doubled from a year earlier in 2015, apparently indicating excessive tax collection by officials out to improve their personal performances, a lawmaker said Thursday.

   In 2015, the National Tax Service (NTS) was forced to reimburse 6.26 trillion won (US$5.56 billion) in excess taxes, according to Rep. Kim Gwang-lim of the ruling Saenuri Party.

   The 2015 tally marks a 106 percent spike from 3.04 trillion won in 2014, the lawmaker said, citing related data from the NTS. Kim currently sits on the parliamentary finance committee.

   Unlike tax refunds, tax reimbursements represent amounts that should not have been collected in the first place.

   "The amount of tax reimbursements appears to have increased as tax offices launch unnecessary tax probes and impose excessive taxes only based on the outcome of their investigations and without reviewing the lawfulness of their decisions," Kim said.

   A tax official noted such a practice remains widespread among tax officials as they are evaluated on the amount of taxes they impose and collect, and face little consequences even when the government later loses tax litigation cases involving their decisions.

   In 2015, the amount of tax reimbursements made following legal complaints and disputes raised by taxpayers came to more than 5.2 trillion won, accounting for more than 83 percent of the total.

   The amount voluntarily reimbursed by the tax office came to only 645 billion won, according to the lawmaker. (Yonhap)