Korea Tax Refund Calculator
How much VAT you get back before you fly home.
This is an estimate. Refund operators keep a service fee, so you usually get back about 5 to 8 percent of the price, not the full 10 percent VAT. The exact amount is printed on your refund slip.
- Foreign visitors who have been in Korea for less than 6 months
- Overseas Koreans who have lived abroad for 2 years or more and are staying less than 3 months
- You spend 15,000 won or more in one payment at a Tax Free store, and show your passport
- You leave Korea with the goods within 3 months of buying them
- Each payment must be under 1,000,000 won
- Up to 5,000,000 won in total per trip. Above that, claim at the airport or a city refund desk
Rules checked November 2026.
Visitors to Korea can claim back part of the 10 percent VAT on shopping. Enter your receipts to see which ones qualify, which can be refunded on the spot and roughly how much you will get back.
How the refund works
Shop at stores showing a Tax Free sign and spend at least 15,000 won in one payment. Show your passport at the register. For payments under 1,000,000 won, many stores take the tax off immediately, up to a total of 5,000,000 won per trip. For anything else you receive a refund slip and claim at the airport kiosks or a city refund desk before you leave.
Why you get less than 10 percent
The refund operator keeps a service fee, so the amount returned is usually about 5 to 8 percent of the price. The exact figure is printed on the slip the store gives you.
At the airport
Allow extra time before check-in. Keep your receipts, refund slips and passport together, and be ready to show the goods if customs asks.
Questions people ask
What is the minimum purchase for a tax refund in Korea?
15,000 won in a single payment at a participating store.
Who can claim a tax refund in Korea?
Foreign visitors who have been in Korea for less than six months, and overseas Koreans who live abroad and are staying less than three months.
How long do I have to leave Korea after buying?
You need to take the goods out of Korea within three months of the purchase date.
Can I get the refund in the store?
Often yes. Payments under 1,000,000 won can be refunded on the spot at stores that offer immediate refunds, up to 5,000,000 won per trip.