Task force launched to inspect tax probes
Kim Duk-joong, center, commissioner of the National Tax Service, and officials of the agency salute the flag during an inauguration ceremony for its newly-formed task force that will launch tax investigations to prevent bribery. Yonhap
By Cho Mu-hyun
The National Tax Service (NTS) launched a task force dedicated to eradicate tax probe-related corruption Wednesday, following recent scandals of bribes taken by tax agents.
Last week, police confirmed they were investigating an NTS agent from the Seoul Regional Office for suspicion of accepting bribes. In March, nine agents faced the same charges, and one was arrested.
Commissioner Kim Duk-joong vowed when he took office in late March that eliminating corruption would be a top priority.
He apologized for past scandals and promised to form a separate division to police the agency.
At a meeting attended by the newly formed task force and 70 NTS officials, Kim vowed to eradicate corruption and asked the auditors to work passionately to change the agency.
The task force, consisting of 30 personnel, will have the sole task of auditing investigations they suspect to be suspicious. They will be based in the NTS headquarters in downtown Seoul but have the authority to audit all regional offices, which total six across the nation.
“There were many that applied for the task force because, though it has a heavy responsibility, it is a key initiative following the new administration and there are plenty of moral and practical incentives,” said a NTS official.
Agents caught taking bribes will be permanently banned from partaking in tax investigations. Previously, those caught were admonished and suspended from probes. In the past five years, 183 agents have faced such penalties.
They will also be required to report any family ties with investigation targets prior to any investigation. The directors of investigation teams will not be allowed to head the same team for more than a year, to prevent possible intimacy with targets that can lead to corruption.
The NTS has said it is considering hiring an outsider as an inspector-general and is thought to be considering candidates from the prosecutors’ office.
Besides inspections, the NTS will also hold regular education sessions on ethics and increase supervision on whether agents’s conduct during investigations.