South Korea Tax Guide
In 2026, the headline personal income tax rate in South Korea is 49.5% and the corporate tax rate is 27.5%. Checked against official guidance on 8 November 2026.
- Personal income
- 49.5%45% national top rate above KRW 1bn plus 10% local income tax
- Corporate
- 27.5%25% national top rate above KRW 300 billion from 2026 plus 10% local income tax; national scale 10% to KRW 200 million, 20% to KRW 20 billion, 22% to KRW 300 billion, 25% above
At a glance
| Personal income tax (headline rate) | 49.5%45% national top rate above KRW 1bn plus 10% local income tax |
|---|---|
| Corporate tax | 27.5%25% national top rate above KRW 300 billion from 2026 plus 10% local income tax; national scale 10% to KRW 200 million, 20% to KRW 20 billion, 22% to KRW 300 billion, 25% above |
| Capital gains | Unlock with Signal |
| Crypto tax | Unlock with Signal |
| Dividend tax | Unlock with Signal |
| Rental income tax | Unlock with Signal |
| Residency threshold (days) | Unlock with Signal |
| Special tax regime | No |
Source: official guidance· last verified 8 Nov 2026
Informational only. Not tax or financial advice. Verify with a qualified professional before you act.
South Korea residency rule
South Korea residency is determined by a combination of physical presence and personal ties: day count, habitual abode, centre of vital interests, and treaty tie-breakers. Heed tracks the full rule and counts the days for you.
Signal ($99 a year) unlocks the full residency rule.
Unlock with SignalRecent changes in South Korea
Regulatory stabilityActive4 rule changes in 24 months, actively evolving; worth monitoring. See how South Korea ranks.
- Exemption · 1 Jan 2027
South Korea to tax crypto gains above KRW 2.5 million at 20% from 1 January 2027
Under the Income Tax Act, income from transferring or lending virtual assets from 1 January 2027 is taxed separately as other income at 20% of annual gains above KRW 2.5 million, plus local income tax. The start date has been postponed three times, most recently by the December 2024 amendment.
- Tax · 1 Jan 2026
South Korea taxes dividends from high-dividend listed companies separately at 14% to 30% from 2026
Resident shareholders can elect to have dividends from qualifying listed high-dividend companies taxed apart from their other income: 14% up to KRW 20 million, 20% to KRW 300 million, 25% to KRW 5 billion and 30% above. A company qualifies if listed (not KONEX), its dividends did not fall below 2024, and its payout ratio is at least 40%, or at least 25% with dividends up 10%. It applies to dividends received from 1 January 2026 for business years up to the one including 31 December 2028.
Move, incorporate, and bank in South Korea
South Korea on Heed isn't just a tax profile. Heed also lists residency programmes and company structures with their official sources, and the banking providers it is still verifying.
A first look. Matching these programmes and structures to your own situation is on Pro; banking opens when Financial Navigator launches.View Pro
What Heed tracks in South Korea
Legislative changes
Confirmed changes to South Korea tax law, each checked against its official source.
Residency thresholds
Day counts against South Korea residency rules, with proactive warnings.
Regime updates
Special regimes and rule changes for South Korea residents, where an official source publishes them.
South Korea tax, common questions
Is South Korea a tax haven?
South Korea is not generally classified as a tax haven, though specific regimes and bilateral treaties may still create planning opportunities. Heed tracks the rules of South Korea across multiple jurisdictions so you can compare in context.
What is the income tax rate in South Korea?
The headline personal income tax rate in South Korea is 49.5% (45% national top rate above KRW 1bn plus 10% local income tax). Effective rates vary by income level, residency status, and applicable regime. Heed keeps the rate alongside the legislative changes that move it.
Does South Korea tax cryptocurrency?
Crypto taxation in South Korea varies by holding period, activity type, and residency. Heed maintains the current rate and surfaces a change when we publish it, verified against its official source. The headline rate is available inside the Heed dashboard on Signal and above.
How long do I need to stay in South Korea to become tax resident?
Tax residency in South Korea is determined by a combination of physical presence and personal ties: day count, habitual abode, centre of vital interests, and treaty tie-breakers. Heed counts the days for you and warns before you cross. The full residency rule, including the day threshold and rolling window, is available on Signal and above.
Does South Korea have a digital nomad visa or special regime?
Visa and regime options in South Korea change. Heed records confirmed changes, each with its official source, and matches them to your profile.
How does South Korea compare with other Asia-Pacific jurisdictions?
Heed's Tax Rankings compare South Korea with other Asia-Pacific jurisdictions on employment, capital gains, dividend, crypto, rental and corporate tax. The full table is inside the app, from Signal up.
Compare South Korea with...
Where South Korea stands: the lowest tax countries and the highest.
How Heed tracks South Korea
South Korea surfaces across three Heed tools: every legislative change matched to your profile, every threshold counted, every rate compared.
See South Korea's full tax profile.
Track South Korea on your Heed dashboard. Signal ($99 a year) unlocks the full rate set including capital gains, dividend, crypto, rental, and the complete residency rule.
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