NTS notifies press of `95 tax evasion

The National Tax Service (NTS) will soon notify major press organizations of its decision to demand payment of corporate taxes they allegedly evaded in 1995.

``We`ve decided to inform some media organizations between March 27 and 29 that they are suspected of evading taxes in 1995, and that we are going to collect the money before the statute of limitations expires on March 31,`` an NTS official said. Targeted press organizations will be allowed to appeal the NTS decision within 90 days after the notification.

Meanwhile, regarding the allegation that the NTS traced the bank accounts of some reporters, Lee Joo-Seuk, director of the NTS investigation bureau, said, ``We`ve never asked for nor received personal data of reporters who have nothing to do with their companies` management.``

``Some press organizations claim that we investigated their reporters. But it was to check whether the companies properly set aside their retirement payments, not to trace bank accounts,`` he said.

Ha Im-Sook artemes@donga.com