Korea’s National Tax Service Plans Generative AI Rollout for Customized Tax Consultations
South Korea's tax authority is betting on artificial intelligence to overhaul its taxpayer services—a move that could either streamline bureaucracy or create a new layer of automated frustration.
The Digital Shift
The National Tax Service announced plans to deploy generative AI systems designed to provide personalized tax guidance. This isn't about replacing forms with chatbots—it's an attempt to build a dynamic consultation engine that adapts to individual financial situations.
Taxpayers would theoretically receive tailored advice on deductions, filings, and compliance, all processed through an AI interface. The system aims to interpret complex regulations and apply them to specific cases without waiting for human agents.
The Fine Print
While the promise is personalized service, the reality hinges on data inputs and algorithmic transparency. The NTS will need to train models on decades of tax code, court rulings, and exception cases—a legal minefield where a single misinterpretation could cost citizens millions.
For a country already wrestling with crypto taxation frameworks and digital asset reporting, adding AI to the mix feels like solving a math problem with a philosophy degree—impressive in theory, messy in practice.
Broader Implications
This move signals how traditional financial regulators are playing catch-up with the tech sector. While DeFi protocols automate complex financial operations daily, government agencies are just beginning to explore similar efficiencies for basic services.
The cynical take? After years of struggling to tax crypto gains, perhaps they're hoping AI will finally crack the code—or at least generate plausible explanations for why they haven't.
One thing's certain: when your tax consultant is an algorithm, 'creative accounting' takes on a whole new meaning.
NTS AI tax consultant provides customized guidance
An exclusive report by The Chosun Daily stated that the NTS has proposed introducing a generative AI tax consultant to provide tailored guidance. The tax agency aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of consultation for honest taxpayers.
South Korea’s tax committee has addressed audit practices under the proposal, with a framework that allows taxpayers to choose the scheduling of regular tax audits. The new proposal aims to limit on-site audits, where officials are stationed at business premises during standard examinations. It also aims to reduce operational disruptions.
Korea’s National Tax Service proposed raising sales thresholds for access to observer services from a taxpayer protection officer to improve taxpayer rights. So far, individual business owners are restricted to annual sales of 1 billion Won ($676,229) or less, while corporations are restricted to 2 billion Korean Won ($1,352,457) or less. The expanded eligibility means more entities WOULD be able to have an impartial NTS ombudsman present during audits.
The new proposals align with Korea’s NTS’s ongoing transformation since the 2024 declaration of the ‘first year of AI Tax Administration’. The NTS announced a full-scale initiative towards AI applications in 2024, starting with tax consultations and allocating KRW 30 billion ($20,286,861) over two years to support the initial stages of the program.
NTS’s AI tax consultant to cut across filing and payment processes
Korea’s NTS launched an AI tax consultation service using voice recognition technology in May 2024, marking the first implementation of AI in government agencies. The AI model was trained using over 2 million records from previous tax consultations. The AI tax system will cut across filing, payment, and other processes.
An upgraded AI home tax system was also included in the proposal, with funding spanning from 2024 through 2026. The platform’s design features a user-friendly interface, targeting citizens with little to no technical knowledge. It will also incorporate more tax processes for enhanced consultation.
The government of South Korea attempted a similar pilot service in 2023. Deloitte noted that the initiative increased the call success rate from 24% to 98%.
Meanwhile, NTS officials stated that the 2025 proposal will further improve their initial plan by integrating more customized interactions. The new AI-driven tax consultant model is expected to provide more accurate responses.
The proposed tax consultation reforms align with the country’s focus on innovating digital tax systems, prioritizing convenience and fairness. Flexible timing and reduced physical presence will address feedback from small and medium-sized businesses.
The current initiatives show that the agency is committed to innovation and an administration centered on taxpayers. The initiatives also build on proven improvements in user experience.
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