Does my visa change my Korean taxes?

Korean income tax is based on tax residency (roughly 183+ days in Korea), not your visa type. Residents pay the same progressive brackets whatever the visa. The 19% flat rate applies to employment income, not freelance business income.

Do I charge VAT to foreign clients?

No. Exports of goods or services to foreign clients are zero-rated (0% VAT) in Korea. You still file VAT returns and can reclaim input VAT. Only sales to Korean clients carry 10% VAT, if you are a 일반과세자.

What is the simplified expense rate (단순경비율)?

It's a flat deduction the NTS lets low-revenue freelancers use instead of bookkeeping. It only applies when prior-year revenue is below ₩24,000,000. Above that you use the 기준경비율 (much lower) or keep actual books.

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Korea tax calculator for foreign freelancers

Enter your own figures to estimate your Korean income tax (종합소득세), VAT (부가세) and contributions. It takes about a minute.

These are estimates, not tax advice.

Real figures depend on your exact business code, deductions, credits and personal situation. Always confirm with a licensed 세무사 before filing or making payments.

You are

Freelancer (개인) Corporation (법인)

Your income

Revenue from Korean clients (KRW)

What you invoiced clients in Korea over the year.

Revenue from foreign clients (in KRW)

Paid in any currency? Enter the KRW that actually landed in your Korean bank account.

Salary income (근로소득), if you have one

If you also have a Korean job, add your gross yearly salary. Both incomes are taxed together as 종합소득, and we apply the employment deduction (근로소득공제) for you.

VAT (부가가치세)

I charge 10% VAT to Korean clients (일반과세자)

Selling goods or services to Korean clients? You add 10% VAT as a 일반과세자, so keep the box checked.

Exports to foreign clients, whether goods or services, are zero-rated at 0% VAT. That revenue never adds VAT.

VAT-exempt businesses (면세사업자) charge no VAT at all. If that's you, uncheck the box above.

Business expenses

What kind of work do you do?

Using the NTS simplified expense rate (단순경비율) for 업종코드 940926: 64% of revenue.

I know my actual expense rate

Just a starting point. Your real deductible rate (경비율) depends on your business code and revenue, and past a certain income you have to keep real books. Adjust it to your actual costs.

Estimated total to set aside

₩0

Taxes + national pension + health insurance, for the year.

Taxable income: ₩0
Income tax · 종합소득세: ₩0
Local income tax · 지방소득세: ₩0
VAT · 부가가치세: ₩0
National pension · 국민연금: ₩0
Health insurance · 건강보험: ₩0

An estimate. Your real bill will differ.

Track this with your real invoices

Yusu keeps your invoices, the KRW you received, and your tax estimate in one place, then hands a clean year to your 세무사.

Korean tax calendar

The deadlines a foreign freelancer (개인사업자) typically faces each year. Dates are fixed; the amounts below are your estimate split across them.

Jan 25

VAT · 2기 확정신고

Second-half VAT return for the previous year.

≈ ₩0

May 31

Income tax · 종합소득세 신고

Annual income tax filing for the previous year. The big one.

≈ ₩0

Jul 25

VAT · 1기 확정신고

First-half VAT return (January–June).

≈ ₩0

Nov 30

Income tax prepayment · 중간예납

Mid-year prepayment, usually about half of last year's income tax.

Frequently asked questions

Does my visa change my Korean taxes?: Korean income tax is based on tax residency (roughly 183+ days in Korea), not your visa type. Residents pay the same progressive brackets whatever the visa. The 19% flat rate applies to employment income, not freelance business income.
Do I charge VAT to foreign clients?: No. Exports of goods or services to foreign clients are zero-rated (0% VAT) in Korea. You still file VAT returns and can reclaim input VAT. Only sales to Korean clients carry 10% VAT, if you are a 일반과세자.
What is the simplified expense rate (단순경비율)?: It's a flat deduction the NTS lets low-revenue freelancers use instead of bookkeeping. It only applies when prior-year revenue is below ₩24,000,000. Above that you use the 기준경비율 (much lower) or keep actual books.

This tool gives rough estimates from the figures you enter. It is not tax, legal or accounting advice. For anything you'll actually file or pay, talk to a licensed 세무사.