2026 Korea Tax Filing Calendar

When it comes to taxes, when you file and pay can matter as much as how much you owe. Missing a deadline by even one day may lead to penalties or late-payment charges. This guide brings together the main annual deadlines for Korea’s national taxes, such as VAT, income tax, and corporate tax, and local taxes, such as automobile tax and property tax.

National taxes - when to file

Value-added tax (business owners)

• January 1-25: Final return for the previous second half of the year, covering July through December. Simplified taxpayers generally file once a year during this January period.
• July 1-25: Final return for the first half of the year, covering January through June.
• Corporations also have preliminary returns in April and October. For individual general taxpayers, the usual rule is to pay the preliminary notice amount instead of filing a separate preliminary return.

Comprehensive income tax (individuals)

• May 1-31: Individuals file and pay tax on the previous year’s combined income, including business, employment, interest, dividend, pension, and other income.
• Taxpayers subject to the faithful filing confirmation requirement have until June 30.
• If you only had employment income and completed year-end tax settlement through your employer, you may not need to file a separate comprehensive income tax return.

Corporate tax

• Corporate tax is due within three months after the end of the fiscal year. For corporations whose fiscal year ends in December, the deadline is March 31. If a corporation uses a different fiscal year-end month, its filing deadline also changes.

Local taxes - deadlines that are easy to miss

Automobile tax

• Regular automobile tax is paid in two installments: June 16-30 and December 16-31.
• If you pay the full year’s amount in advance in January, you may receive a partial discount.

Property tax

• July 16-31: First installment for housing, plus buildings, vessels, and aircraft.
• September 16-30: Second installment for housing, plus land.
• The taxpayer is generally the person who owns the property as of June 1. If you buy or sell real estate in June, check this reference date carefully.

Resident tax (business establishment portion)

• August: This applies to business operators with a business establishment as of July 1.

Common mistakes

• If the deadline falls on a weekend or public holiday, it is automatically moved to the next business day. Even so, Hometax can slow down when many people file at the last minute, so it is better to finish early.
• VAT and comprehensive income tax are often confused. VAT is the tax a business remits on VAT it has collected, while comprehensive income tax is tax on the individual’s own income. They are different in purpose and filing logic.
• Property tax and automobile tax notices are easy to overlook. Setting up electronic notices or automatic payment through Wetax or your local government app can reduce the chance of missing them.

View only your own deadlines as D-days (free)

Choose your taxpayer type, such as individual, sole proprietor, or corporation, and see only the filing and payment deadlines that apply to you. You can also check how many days remain until the next deadline.

👉 Open the free tax filing calendar (oiyo.net)

Frequently asked questions

Q. How many times a year do I file value-added tax? Individual general taxpayers file final VAT returns twice a year, in January and July. Corporations file four times a year when preliminary returns are included, in January, April, July, and October. Simplified taxpayers generally file once a year, in January of the following year.

Q. Is comprehensive income tax different from year-end tax settlement? Yes. Year-end tax settlement is the process your employer handles for employment income early in the year. Comprehensive income tax filing is the May process where an individual directly reports all combined income. If you have income other than employment income, such as business, freelance, or rental income, you may need to file in May.

Q. What happens if I miss a deadline? You may face non-filing penalties and late-payment charges. If you miss a deadline, filing as soon as possible after the deadline may reduce penalties in some cases. Check the exact amount and any possible reductions through Hometax for national taxes, Wetax for local taxes, or a qualified tax professional.

This article is for general educational information only and is not personalized tax advice. Deadlines may vary depending on individual circumstances, including preliminary notices, faithful filing confirmation requirements, and fiscal year-end months. Confirm your exact filing schedule and tax amount through Hometax, Wetax, or a qualified tax professional.