3 tax refunds to check before you leave Korea
Year-end settlement when you leave, the 3.3% freelance refund and missed deductions from past years — what to claim before you go.
Many foreigners who worked in Korea can get part of their tax back when they leave. There are three refunds to check: the year-end settlement when you leave your job, the 3.3% tax on freelance income, and deductions you missed in past years. The exact rules depend on your situation, so check with a tax accountant if you are not sure.
1. Year-end settlement when you leave
Normally, your employer recalculates your income tax for the year around February of the next year. When a foreign worker leaves Korea for good, the employer generally settles the tax for that year up to your leaving date instead. If more tax was withheld from your salary than you actually owe, you get the difference back, usually with your final pay. Ask your employer for your withholding receipt (근로소득 원천징수영수증) and keep it.
2. Refund of the 3.3% freelance tax
If you were paid as a freelancer and 3.3% was taken from each payment, that money is a prepayment of tax. You can get part of it back by filing comprehensive income tax (종합소득세), because your expenses and deductions are taken into account. The normal filing period is May of the next year. If you leave Korea before that, you generally need to file before you leave (departure filing). This can also include income from the year you leave.
3. Deductions you missed in past years
Did you forget to claim deductions in an earlier year, for example for dependents, medical costs or monthly rent? You can ask the tax office to correct your tax (경정청구). This is generally possible within 5 years from the filing deadline of that year. You can do it on Hometax or ask a tax accountant to do it for you.
| Refund | When | How |
|---|---|---|
| Year-end settlement at departure | When you leave your job and Korea | Your employer does it. Check your final payslip. |
| 3.3% freelance tax | May filing, or before you leave if earlier | File comprehensive income tax on Hometax or through a tax accountant |
| Missed deductions (경정청구) | Generally within 5 years from the filing deadline | Request a correction on Hometax or through a tax accountant |
Before you leave: what to do
- 1
Talk to your employer
Tell them your last working day and departure date. Ask for the year-end settlement and your withholding receipt.
- 2
File your freelance income
If you had income with 3.3% withheld and you will not be in Korea in May, file before you leave.
- 3
Check past years
Look at your old withholding receipts. If you missed deductions, ask about a correction request.
- 4
Plan how to receive refunds
Keep your Korean bank account open until the refunds arrive, or appoint a tax administrator (납세관리인) who can handle tax matters for you after you leave.
- 5
Keep your documents
Withholding receipts, payslips, employment or freelance contracts, a copy of your ARC and passport, and your bank book. Save them as files too.
Before you act
Official sources
Written by KOVIA 편집팀
