Korea, Republic of

Value-added tax (VAT)

VAT is levied at a rate of 10% on the supply of goods and services, except zero-rated VAT on certain supply of goods and services (e.g. goods for exportation, certain eligible services rendered to non-residents or foreign corporations earning foreign currency, international transportation service by ships and aircraft) and exemption on certain goods and services (e.g. basic life necessities and services, such as unprocessed foodstuffs and agricultural products; medical and health services; finance and insurance services; duty-exempt goods). The zero-rated VAT only applies to the supply of certain services that are provided to a non-resident or a foreign corporation without having a PE in Korea on a reciprocal basis. They include professional services (e.g. legal, accounting, tax, advisory, market survey, management consulting), business support services (e.g. human resources outsourcing, office support, employment placement agency), and investment advisory services.

Electronic VAT invoicing by the supplier of goods or services is a compulsory requirement. If a taxpayer fails to issue the electronic VAT invoice or report electronically to tax authorities, the relevant penalties shall be imposed.

If a foreign company or a non-resident without a PE in Korea or without regard to a PE in Korea provides certain electronic services to a consumer (excluding the person having Korean VAT registration) in Korea via an information and communication network (as defined under relevant Korean act), it shall comply with the requirements of a simplified VAT registration and VAT return filing, together with VAT payment for the provision of the electronic services.  With effect from January 1, 2024, a penalty of 1% the supply price of electronic services for the period up to the date preceding the simplified registration date will be levied for non-compliance with the simplified registration requirement.  The electronic services of a foreign company or non-resident includes games, audio/video files, electronic documents, etc. that are supplied in an electronic format through an information and communication network, as well as cloud computing, advertising placement services, and intermediary services that include mediating activities of renting, using, consuming, supplying, or purchasing goods or services in Korea. If the foreign electronic services are supplied to Korean consumers through third parties, such as electronic marketplaces or intermediaries who transmit payment from the purchaser to the seller, the third party must register and account for the VAT. With effect from 1 July 2022, a foreign company or non-resident engaging in electronic services through the simplified VAT registration is required to comply with documentation of keeping transaction details for five years from the due date for VAT returns for the taxable period to which the transaction belongs.

Customs duties

Customs duties are generally assessed at 8% on imported goods, although the rate can be partly or wholly reduced by an applicable free trade act. Generally, 'importation’ refers to the delivery of foreign goods into Korea (e.g. delivery of foreign goods into Korea from a bonded area to a non-bonded area) to be consumed or to be used in Korea.

Property tax

An annual property tax, as a local tax, ranging from 0.07% to 5% is charged on the statutory value of land, buildings, houses, vessels, and aircraft. Five times the property tax rate is applied to factories that are newly constructed or expanded in a designated metropolitan area for the first five years.

Comprehensive real estate holding tax

A comprehensive real estate holding tax, as a national tax, ranging from 0.5% to 5% (depending on the type and number of assets) is charged on a certain excessive aggregated statutory value of certain land and residential houses. It is levied annually on corporation and individuals owning the assets held as of 1 June of each year.

Securities transaction tax

Securities transaction tax at the rate of currently 0.35% for unlisted Korean shares or interest is imposed on the transfer of shares or interest.  The flexible tax rates prescribed by the Presidential Decree are 0.18% and 0.15% (including special tax for rural development) for listed shares traded on the Korea Stock Exchange in 2024 and 2025, respectively and 0.18% and 0.15% for shares traded on the Korean Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (KOSDAQ) for the respective year.  The tax rate remains unchanged at 0.1% for shares traded on the Korea New Exchange (KONEX).

Acquisition tax

Acquisition tax is charged on the acquisition price of real estate, motor vehicles, construction equipment, golf membership, boats, etc. The acquisition tax rate varies depending on the type of assets subject to the tax, ranging from 1% to 7%. A weighted rate is charged on acquisitions in a designated metropolitan area or on acquisition of luxury items, such as villas, golf courses, and yachts. A 12% acquisition tax rate shall be applicable to the acquisition of a residential house by a corporation.

Registration tax

In principle, registration tax is included in the acquisition tax. However, in some cases, a separate registration tax ranging from 0.2% to 5% is charged upon the act of registering the creation, alteration, or lapse of property rights or other titles and incorporation with the concerned authorities. Registration tax upon the registration of title or right and incorporation for corporations located in a designated metropolitan area may be subject to three times the normal registration tax rate of 0.4%.

Stamp tax

Stamp tax is levied on a person who prepares a document certifying establishment, transfer, or change of rights to property in Korea. The stamp tax ranges from KRW 50 to KRW 350,000, depending on the type of taxable document. The electronic stamp system has been implemented to make it mandatory to use stamps bought online rather than paper stamps bought in banks or post offices.

Gift tax

Gift tax is imposed on a person who acquires any property or value increase by gift. If CIT or individual income tax is imposed on the gifted property, however, the gift tax shall not be imposed. Gift tax ranges from 10% on not more than KRW 100 million in tax base to the top marginal tax rate of 50% of the excess over KRW 3 billion in tax base.

Inheritance tax

Inheritance tax is imposed upon a person who acquires property through inheritance or bequest. However, an inheritor that is a non-profit company shall be exempt from the inheritance tax. Inheritance tax rates are the same as those for gift tax.

Payroll taxes

Employers are required to withhold income taxes on salaries paid to employees on a monthly basis, finalise their employees' tax liability for a calendar year, and file the final payroll tax settlement receipt with the tax authorities no later than the tenth day of March of the following year.

Social security contributions

There are four types of social security contributions in Korea, namely national pension, national health insurance, employment insurance, and worker’s accident compensation insurance. For the first three types of social security taxes (i.e. national pension, national health insurance, and employment insurance), employees and employers jointly bear certain percentages of salaries. Meanwhile, the worker's accident compensation insurance is borne by employers only, which varies by industry types (see Social security contributions in the Other taxes section of the Individual tax summary for more information).