Politics · South Korea · 1 day ago
Only 19% of South Korea tax agency's proposed tax changes were adopted
South Korea’s National Tax Service proposed 1,109 changes to tax laws and rules to the Ministry of Economy and Finance from 2024 through 2026.
Only 207 proposals, or 18.7%, were included in government tax plans, even partly.
The share accepted fell from 25.1% in 2024 to 14.6% in 2026.
Of 174 proposals repeated after not being accepted the previous year, 156 were rejected again.
Changes related to the comprehensive real estate tax had a particularly low acceptance rate: five of 88 proposals were included.
A lawmaker said the agency should focus on its most important proposals and examine why others are rejected.
The tax agency said it would work more closely with the ministry to make its proposals more effective.
South Korea’s tax agency had 207 of 1,109 proposed tax-law changes included in government tax-reform proposals over the past three years, a rate of 18.7%.
The rate fell from 25.1% in 2024 to 14.9% in 2025 and 14.6% this year.
Of 174 proposals resubmitted after not being adopted the previous year, 156 were rejected again.
The agency’s proposals on comprehensive real estate tax had a particularly low adoption rate, with five of 88 included.
Lawmaker Kim Sang-hoon criticized the agency for prioritizing the number of proposals, while the agency said it would strengthen communication with the finance ministry.
- Who
- South Korea’s National Tax Service and the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Lawmaker Kim Sang-hoon raised concerns about the proposals.
- What
- Only 207 of 1,109 tax-law changes proposed by the National Tax Service over three years were included in government tax-reform proposals.
- When
- From 2024 through 2026. The figures were reported on October 10, 2026.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- Kim said the agency should prioritize the quality and urgency of its proposals. The agency said repeated proposals seek to address taxpayer difficulties and challenges in tax administration.
Kim Sang-hoon
National Tax Service
Assessment of repeated proposals
Kim Sang-hoon
Kim said the agency’s broad volume of proposals may amount to accumulating results to avoid criticism.
National Tax Service
The agency said repeated proposals are sustained efforts to address taxpayer inconvenience and difficulties in tax administration.
What should change
Kim Sang-hoon
Kim said the agency should prioritize necessary proposals and analyze why unsuccessful proposals were rejected.
National Tax Service
The agency said it would strengthen communication with the Ministry of Economy and Finance to improve the proposals’ adoption rate and effectiveness.
It is now time to assess the quality of proposals, not their quantity.
Repeated proposals are a sustained effort to resolve inconveniences taxpayers experience in tax administration and difficulties in enforcement.
The National Tax Service submitted 418 proposals, of which 105 were included in tax-reform proposals.
It submitted 349 proposals, of which 52 were included; 94 proposals repeated ones not adopted the previous year.
It submitted 342 proposals, of which 50 were included; 80 proposals repeated ones not adopted in 2025.
Yonhap reported that 207 of 1,109 proposals submitted over three years had been included.
- Overall adoption rate
- 207 of 1,109 proposals; 18.7%
- Not adopted
- 902 proposals; 81.3%
- Repeated proposals
- 174 resubmitted; 156 rejected again
- Comprehensive real estate tax proposals
- 5 of 88 included; 5.7%
- Annual adoption rate
- 25.1% in 2024; 14.9% in 2025; 14.6% in 2026
Sources
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