Korea Tax Refund Calculator
Quick answer Foreign visitors staying under 6 months can claim a VAT refund on receipts of ₩15,000 or more from one store, and usually get back roughly 2%–7% of the price after operator fees. Instant refunds at the till work for receipts under ₩1,000,000 (trip total under ₩5,000,000), and the goods must leave Korea within 3 months of purchase.
Source says VISITKOREA (Korea Tourism Organization), Duty Free & Tax Refunds — explains which purchases by foreign visitors qualify for a tax refund and how instant and airport refunds work official text
Sources checked October 2026: VISITKOREA, Korea.net, Incheon Airport, Visit Seoul
- Minimum ₩15,000 per receipt
- Instant at the store Under ₩1M per receipt
- You get back Roughly 2%–7%
- Deadline Goods leave within 3 months
Add each shopping receipt and the type of store, plus how long you’re staying. You’ll see which receipts qualify, which can be refunded right at the till, roughly how much you get back — and what to do at the airport.
Instant refund vs airport refund
| Instant at the store | Airport / downtown |
|---|
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Rates used: ₩1,400 = $1, ₩1,580 = €1, ₩9.5 = ¥1, ₩45 = NT$1 (set 2026-09-29). Your card or cash refund will use the actual rate of the day.
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30-second versionKorea tax refund: how much do you get back? (tourist shopping)
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The rules in short
| Who can claim | Foreign visitors staying in Korea for less than 6 months |
| Minimum purchase | ₩15,000 per receipt (one store) |
| Instant refund at the store | Each receipt under ₩1,000,000, trip total under ₩5,000,000 |
| Deadline | Goods must leave Korea within 3 months of purchase |
| Refund amount | Roughly 2%–7% of the price after operator fees (about 5%–7% on receipts of ₩100,000+) Check before you go |
| Customs check | Refund of ₩75,000 or more on one receipt: show the goods at the customs desk before check-in Check before you go |
Prices in Korea include 10% VAT — about 9.1% of the price you pay (10/110). Refund operators then deduct a handling fee and use their own stepped tables, so the amount printed on your refund receipt is what counts.
Sources (checked October 2026): VISITKOREA — Duty Free & Tax Refunds · Korea.net — instant refund limits · Incheon Airport — tax refund · Visit Seoul — Tax Refund
Marked “Check before you go”: operator refund tables and the customs threshold come from refund operators’ and travel guides’ published tables, not from an official page we could open. The amount on your refund receipt and the airport signs always win.
You might also need: Korea Trip Budget by Days and Style: 3, 5 or 7 Days
Instant refund vs airport refund
| Instant refund at the store | Airport / downtown refund | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | At the till of stores showing an instant (immediate) tax refund sign | Refund kiosk or counter at the airport before check-in, or a downtown refund counter |
| Limits | Each receipt under ₩1,000,000, trip total under ₩5,000,000 | Receipts over the instant limits, and stores without instant refund |
| What you show | Passport when paying | Passport, refund receipt — and the goods if customs asks |
| Good for | Everyday shopping such as cosmetics and clothes | Big-ticket items |
- Where
- At the till of stores showing an instant (immediate) tax refund sign
- Limits
- Each receipt under ₩1,000,000, trip total under ₩5,000,000
- What you show
- Passport when paying
- Good for
- Everyday shopping such as cosmetics and clothes
- Where
- Refund kiosk or counter at the airport before check-in, or a downtown refund counter
- Limits
- Receipts over the instant limits, and stores without instant refund
- What you show
- Passport, refund receipt — and the goods if customs asks
- Good for
- Big-ticket items
How to claim
- 1Shop at stores showing a Tax Free / Tax Refund sign and show your passport when paying.
- 2Instant refund: the refund is taken off the price at the counter (within the limits above).
- 3Otherwise: keep the refund receipt with your passport.
- 4At the airport, claim it at a refund kiosk or counter before check-in — or earlier at a downtown refund counter.
Planning the whole trip? Add shopping to the trip budget calculator.
Ready-made answers: Tax refund by amount (₩30,000 to ₩1,000,000)
FAQ
How much tax refund do I get in Korea?
Prices include 10% VAT, but refund operators deduct a fee and use stepped tables, so you usually get back roughly 2%–7% of the price — more on bigger receipts. The exact amount is printed on your refund receipt.
Can I add up receipts from different stores to reach ₩15,000?
No. The minimum applies to each receipt from one store.
I’m staying more than 3 months. Can I still claim?
Visitors staying under 6 months can claim, but the goods must leave Korea within 3 months of purchase — so receipts older than that don’t qualify.
Do I need to show what I bought at the airport?
For a refund of ₩75,000 or more on one receipt, generally yes: go to the customs desk before you check your bags. Rules can change — check the signs at the airport.
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