For the 2026 tax year, comprehensive income tax uses an 8-bracket progressive rate from 6% to 45% of the taxable base: 6% up to KRW 14 million, 15% from KRW 14–50 million, 24% from KRW 50–88 million, 35% from KRW 88–150 million, 38% from KRW 150–300 million, 40% from KRW 300–500 million, 42% from KRW 500 million–1 billion, and 45% above KRW 1 billion. Because it's progressive, the top bracket rate does not apply to your entire income — each portion is taxed at its own bracket rate and then summed.
You can check your refund status on Hometax under "Refund Inquiry" after filing; it's deposited automatically into the account listed on your return (a foreign account can be designated).
2026 comprehensive income tax brackets
How quickly refunds usually arrive
A normally completed e-filing typically results in a refund within about a month (faster for Hometax's pre-filled "easy filing"). Refunds can be delayed if there are errors in the return or if the tax office needs to review it further.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Topics
Filing When You Have Wage Income Plus Other Income
How to add business, rental, or other income on top of your already-settled wage income in the May return.
How Retirement Income Is Taxed
How Korea's service-year deduction and converted-salary formula soften the progressive tax bite on severance pay, and the IRP tax benefit.