Foreigner tax savings Korea? The information below is for general informational purposes and may vary depending on an individual’s residency status, type of income, and whether a tax treaty applies. If anything is unclear, the safest option is to use the National Tax Service (NTS) Foreign Taxpayer Help Line (English). (National Tax Service)
Top 10 “Mistakes” Foreigners Make for Tax Saving/Refunds (At a Glance)
| Rank | Mistake (What to Avoid) | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Getting your resident/non-resident status wrong from the start | Claiming deductions you’re not eligible for (or giving up deductions you could claim) |
| 2 | Choosing the 19% flat tax as “always better” | Risk of giving up deductions, exemptions, tax credits, and reductions |
| 3 | Not applying because you don’t know about foreigner-only benefits/tax treaty benefits | Missing lawful reductions/exemptions |
| 4 | Relying only on simplified year-end tax settlement data and not submitting “missing documents” | Throwing away a refund you could have received |
| 5 | Mistakenly thinking overseas medical expenses/overseas card spending/overseas education expenses are deductible | Deductions denied / burden of corrections |
| 6 | Giving up deductions for family in your home country (spouse/parents/children) or lacking supporting documents | Missing a big refund opportunity |
| 7 | Thinking withholding at 3.3% or 8.8% means it’s “done” | Missing May filing / possible additional tax assessment |
| 8 | Missing exceptions for combining income from multiple jobs/side income | Failing to file even though you should |
| 9 | Not settling taxes before leaving Korea (overseas relocation) | Missing the pre-departure filing deadline |
| 10 | Not filing a correction claim even after realizing missed/incorrect deductions | Giving up refunds for up to 5 years |
1) Mistake: Getting Your Resident/Non-Resident Status Wrong from the Start
For foreign taxpayers, the key is not “nationality,” but resident vs. non-resident status.
- NTS guidance: A resident in Korea is “an individual who has an address in Korea or has resided in Korea for 183 days or more.” (NTS)
- NTS guidance: For foreign employees who are non-residents (with some exceptions), you should note that most income deductions and tax credits do not apply. (National Tax Service)
How to avoid it
- Organize your entry/exit schedule (flight tickets/immigration records) and calculate the “183 days” yourself
- Confirm with HR (payroll) whether your year-end settlement is being processed as a resident
- If you are treated as a resident, your deduction strategy changes completely (especially for dependents/rent/pension accounts, etc.).
2) Mistake: Assuming the 19% Flat Tax Is “Always Better”
A well-known option for foreigners is the 19% flat tax, and this is where many mistakes happen.
Key points from NTS Q&A/guidance:
- They repeatedly emphasize that if you choose the flat tax, rules on non-taxation, reductions, income deductions, and tax credits do not apply. (NTS)
- They also note that “depending on each person’s tax base and deduction items, the advantage/disadvantage differs, so the flat tax is not always beneficial.” (NTS)
How to avoid it
- At least once, compare “flat tax vs. standard (progressive) tax rate” using the simplified/estimated tax feature before deciding (NTS)
- The more “deduction cards” you have—rent, dependents, donations, pension accounts, etc.—the more the flat tax can become unfavorable (case by case).
3) Mistake: Not Applying Because You Don’t Know About Foreigner-Only Benefits/Tax Treaty Benefits
Some people assume “being a foreigner is disadvantageous” and end up missing benefits available only to foreigners.
NTS guidance (summary):
- Eligible foreign technicians may receive tax reductions on employment income for a certain period, and the NTS notes that individuals must check whether they meet the requirements. (National Tax Service)
- Additionally, if a country’s tax treaty with Korea includes a teacher (native-speaking teacher) exemption clause, and requirements are met, income related to teaching/research may be exempt for a certain period. (National Tax Service)
How to avoid it
- If your visa/job/contract type could fall under “reduction-eligible,” check with your company’s payroll staff or a professional about “special provisions applicability”
- Because tax treaties vary by country, be sure to check the relevant treaty wording/requirements (the NTS also emphasizes confirming conditions). (National Tax Service)
4) Mistake: Trusting Only Simplified Data and Not Submitting “Missing Documents”
This is the most realistic mistake that directly costs you your refund.
NTS guidance:
- They state that if data is not provided or is missing in the year-end tax settlement simplified service, you can obtain it directly from the issuing institution and submit it to your company to claim the deduction. (National Tax Service)
How to avoid it
- Don’t just save the simplified PDF and stop—separately check “items that may be missing (commonly: rent, some education expenses/donations, etc.)”
- If missing, get supporting documents from the issuing institution (bank/school/hospital/donation organization, etc.) and submit them to your company as additional documentation
5) Mistake: Thinking Overseas Medical Expenses, Overseas Card Spending, and Overseas Education Expenses Are Deductible
This is a particularly common “misconception-type mistake” among foreigners. People include them assuming they’re deductible in Korea, but they are often denied by the company/tax office.
NTS Q&A (summary):
- Medical expenses at overseas medical institutions are not deductible (NTS)
- Credit card spending made overseas is not deductible (NTS)
- Education expenses paid to overseas educational institutions are not deductible (NTS)
How to avoid it
- Rebuild your deduction plan around “expenses incurred in Korea”
- Since overseas spending may not qualify for Korean deductions, reduce wasted time and prioritize domestic deduction items (rent/donations/pension accounts, etc.) first
6) Mistake: Giving Up Deductions for Family in Your Home Country—or Having Insufficient Documentation
This is a mistake that can make a huge difference in your refund amount, so it’s important to address it.
NTS Q&A (summary):
- The NTS explains that a foreign employee who is a domestic resident and meets requirements (e.g., spouse’s annual income amount of KRW 1,000,000 or less) may claim the basic deduction even if the spouse lives in the home country. (NTS)
- Lineal ascendants/descendants (parents/children, etc.) may also qualify if requirements are met, and documentation to confirm relationship and income + proof of actual support (e.g., living expense remittance records) is required. (NTS)
- They also explain that documents issued by overseas governments may be accepted as evidence through apostille or consular legalization, etc. (NTS)
How to avoid it
- Let go of the fixed idea that “they must live with me in Korea to qualify” (resident status + income requirements + documentation are key)
- Prepare family relationship/marriage relationship/income certificate documents in advance + authenticate (apostille/consular legalization)
- If proof of support is required, organize remittance records “for documentation purposes”
7) Mistake: Thinking Withholding at 3.3% or 8.8% Means It’s “Done” (Freelance/Lecture Fees, etc.)
As side gigs, freelancing, and paid lectures have become more common among foreigners, this mistake has increased a lot.
NTS guidance:
- They clearly state that if you have business income, you must in principle file a final comprehensive income tax return. (National Tax Service)
- In the NTS “pre-filled return guidance,” it also clearly states that even if you have personal service business income (withholding at 3.3%), you are still subject to comprehensive income tax filing. (National Tax Service)
- Other income varies by case, but the NTS provides an example: if other income exceeds KRW 125,000, withholding is payment amount × 8.8% (including local income tax). (National Tax Service)
- They also provide guidance that one-time lecture fees/manuscript fees, etc. are subject to filing if annual other income exceeds KRW 3,000,000. (National Tax Service)
How to avoid it
- Collect documents on the assumption that withholding is not “final tax,” and the final result may be determined through settlement/final filing
- If you have freelance/lecture income, block out May (comprehensive income tax season) on your calendar
8) Mistake: Missing Exceptions for Combining Income from Multiple Jobs (2+ Employers) and Side Income
The trap is thinking, “I only got a salary, so I don’t need to file in May, right?”
NTS guidance on comprehensive income tax:
- If you have only earned income and you completed year-end tax settlement, you usually don’t need to file a final return, but they explain exceptions requiring final filing, such as earned income received from two or more employers, earned income with no withholding agent, and cases where year-end tax settlement was not done, etc. (National Tax Service)
How to avoid it
- If you changed jobs/held multiple jobs/had a part-time job, first confirm whether “income was combined into a single year-end settlement by one company”
- If you have income other than earned income (business/other/pension, etc.), the likelihood of needing a combined filing increases (case by case).
9) Mistake: Putting Off Tax Settlement Before Leaving Korea (Overseas Relocation/Immigration)
For foreigners, departure itself can become a tax event in some cases.
NTS filing deadline guidance:
- As an exception to the comprehensive income tax filing/payment deadline, if you are leaving Korea for overseas relocation, it is guided as “by the day before departure.” (National Tax Service)
How to avoid it
- Don’t wait until “after you book your flight”—bring forward your tax schedule as soon as you have a departure plan
- Check early with your company/tax office whether you need to file before departure
10) Mistake: Giving Up a Refund by Not Filing a Correction Claim Even After You Realize Missing/Incorrect Deductions
Deductions you missed in year-end settlement, income you reported incorrectly… this is not “the end.”
NTS guidance:
- They explain that if you failed to apply deductions/reductions or did not receive sufficient income deductions/tax credits, you can correct it through a request for correction. (National Tax Service)
- They also explain that the deadline for a correction request is, in principle, within 5 years after the statutory filing deadline. (National Tax Service)
How to avoid it
- Even after year-end settlement/comprehensive income tax filing, if you find “missing deductions,” first check whether the 5-year window is still open
- Collecting supporting documents (receipts, family documents, remittance records, etc.) increases the likelihood of getting a refund
(Practical) 5-Minute Checklist: What to Verify Today
- Am I being treated as a resident or non-resident? (NTS)
- If I chose the 19% flat tax, did I choose it knowing that deductions/reductions are blocked? (NTS)
- Could I claim the basic deduction for family in my home country, but gave up due to documentation (apostille/consular legalization, remittance records)? (NTS)
- Do I have freelance/lecture fee income, but didn’t file because I thought “withholding was taken, so it’s done”? (National Tax Service)
- If I’m planning to leave Korea, did I check whether there is a filing issue “by the day before departure”? (National Tax Service)
- If I have missing deductions, did I confirm the 5-year correction claim window? (National Tax Service)
Where to Get Help (For Foreigners)
The NTS English Help Desk provides organized guidance, including operating hours for the Foreigner Help Line (+82-1588-0560). (National Tax Service)
Foreigner tax savings Korea FAQ
Q1. Do foreigners get almost no deductions in year-end tax settlement?
For non-residents, the application of deductions may be limited, but resident foreign taxpayers basically follow a year-end settlement structure similar to that of Korean residents (however, there are some special provisions/requirement differences). (NTS)
Q2. If I choose the 19% flat tax, can I still receive deductions as well?
According to NTS guidance, if you choose the flat tax you should note that non-taxation, deductions, reductions, and tax credit rules do not apply. (NTS)
Q3. Are hospital bills/card spending/children’s tuition paid overseas deductible in Korea?
In its Q&A, the NTS provides guidance to the effect that overseas medical expenses, overseas card spending, and education expenses paid to overseas educational institutions are not deductible. (NTS)
Q4. Can I claim the basic deduction even if my spouse/parents are in my home country?
According to NTS guidance, it is possible for resident foreign employees who meet the requirements, and it may require proof of relationship/income (documents issued by an overseas government) + proof of actual support (remittance records, etc.). (NTS)
Q5. If 3.3% was withheld, is my freelance tax finished?
The NTS advises that if you have business income, you must in principle file a final comprehensive income tax return, and separately notes that personal service business income withheld at 3.3% is also subject to filing. (National Tax Service)
Q6. If I’m planning to leave Korea (overseas relocation), until when do I have to file comprehensive income tax?
According to NTS guidance on filing deadlines, if you leave Korea for overseas relocation: by the day before departure. (National Tax Service)
Q7. I missed some deductions in year-end tax settlement—can I still get a refund now?
The NTS explains that missed deductions/reductions can be corrected through a request for correction, and that, in principle, you can file it within 5 years after the statutory filing deadline. (National Tax Service)
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