Korea tax guide
Korea VAT Filing Deadlines for Foreign Business Owners
Hometax Guides
Who this guide is for
- Foreign sole proprietors in Korea
- Freelancers registered for VAT
- Small-company owners
- Businesses expecting a VAT refund
Quick Answer
Korean VAT filing frequency and deadlines depend on whether the business is a corporation, general individual taxpayer, simplified taxpayer, or subject to another regime. General VAT follows half-year taxable periods with preliminary and final compliance points, but the exact filing obligation should be checked for the business type and current NTS notice.
Key points
- Business type controls the filing calendar.
- Preliminary notices and preliminary returns are not identical.
- Sales and purchase tax invoices must be reconciled.
- Payment and return submission are separate actions.
- Zero sales does not always mean no filing.
Detailed explanation
Confirm the taxpayer type
Read the business registration and determine whether the entity is a corporation, general individual VAT taxpayer, simplified taxpayer, exempt business, or mixed business.
Build two calendars
Maintain an operational calendar for invoice issuance and monthly close, plus a statutory calendar for preliminary and final VAT compliance. Do not wait for the filing month to organize evidence.
Reconcile output and input VAT
Match sales ledgers to tax invoices, cards, cash receipts, platforms, and bank deposits. Match purchase claims to valid tax invoices, imports, business use, and payment evidence.
Review exceptions
Exports, cross-border services, exempt supplies, bad debts, fixed assets, and early refunds can change both documents and timing. Obtain advice before applying zero rating or claiming a large refund.
Documents you may need
- Business registration certificate
- Sales and purchase tax invoices
- Card and cash-receipt data
- Import documents
- Bank and platform statements
- Prior VAT returns
Common mistakes
- Using a corporate calendar for an individual business
- Ignoring a no-sales period
- Claiming input VAT without valid evidence
- Missing electronic invoice cutoffs
- Assuming Hometax data is complete
When should you ask a tax professional?
Ask a qualified tax professional if you have income from several countries, business income, unclear tax residency, treaty questions, missing documents, late filing concerns, or a visa situation that depends on tax records. This site explains general patterns only and cannot review your personal facts.
FAQ
Is VAT always filed quarterly in Korea?
Not for every taxpayer. Corporations, general individual businesses, and simplified taxpayers can have different filing or notice mechanics.
Do I file if there were no sales?
A registered business may still have a filing obligation; check the status and period rather than assuming no return.
When should records be reconciled?
Monthly reconciliation is safer because invoice issuance and transmission deadlines can occur before the VAT return.
Official Sources to Verify
Check the tax year, eligibility conditions, and publication date in the official material before applying a rule. A link marked “Service portal” helps you find a service; it does not substantiate a particular rate or entitlement.