Korea's NTS refundable tax credit for low-income Korean workers and self-employed — up to 1.65M–3.3M KRW by household type + up to 1M KRW per child
| Household | Income Ceiling | Max Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Single (no family) | < 22M KRW | Up to 1.65M KRW |
| Single-earner family | < 32M KRW | Up to 2.85M KRW |
| Dual-earner family | < 38M KRW | Up to 3.3M KRW |
| Income ceiling | < 70M KRW (different from EITC) |
| Amount | Up to 1M KRW per dependent child (graduated by income) |
| Asset test | Household total < 240M KRW (same as EITC) |
| Stacking | Can be received together with EITC |
| Total assets < 170M KRW | Full payment |
| Total assets 170M–240M KRW | 50% reduction |
| Total assets ≥ 240M KRW | Disqualified |
| Pre-register bank | Registering a Korean bank account on Hometax speeds up the deposit. |
| Late filing | Missed May? You can still file until Nov 30 with a 5% reduction. |
| Semi-annual filing | Korean wage earners get up to 35% of the credit paid 6 months earlier. |
| Tax arrears | Any unpaid Korean national tax is offset first; only the remainder is paid in cash. |
This page is an informational summary about a South Korea–only program, based on the Korean National Tax Service (NTS) notice (as of April 2026). It is NOT a tax-advisory or tax-preparation service under Korea's Certified Tax Accountant Act, and applies exclusively to workers and self-employed registered in the Republic of Korea. The calculator uses a simplified phase-in/plateau/phase-out curve; actual amounts are determined solely by NTS review and may differ from values shown here. For household-scope, asset, and individual rulings, please consult Hometax, your local Korean tax office, the NTS EITC/CTC Center (1566-3636), or a licensed Korean tax professional. This site makes no warranty as to accuracy and disclaims all liability for any loss, including under- or over-payment of credits.
Korea's Earned Income Tax Credit (근로장려금) and Child Tax Credit (자녀장려금) are refundable income-support credits run by the Korean National Tax Service (NTS) for low-income Korean-resident workers, self-employed, and religious-workers. EITC pays up to 1.65M KRW (single), 2.85M KRW (single-earner household), or 3.3M KRW (dual-earner) when both income and asset tests are met. CTC adds up to 1M KRW per dependent child, with an income ceiling of 70M KRW, and can be claimed together with EITC. Regular filing runs each May, and Korean wage earners can additionally split payments across two semi-annual windows. Applications are accepted on Hometax, Sontax, ARS, and at district tax offices.
You can file between Jun 1 and Nov 30 as a 'late filing' with a 5% reduction applied, so file in May whenever possible.
Yes — self-employed, freelancers (with some excluded industries), and religious-income earners in Korea qualify. Self-employed filers typically submit EITC together with the May comprehensive income-tax return on Hometax.
Semi-annual filing is available only for wage earners in Korea and lets you receive the 1st-half portion in December and the 2nd-half portion in June, improving cash flow. If the final tally is less than the advance, the excess is clawed back.
Household totals include housing (official appraisal), land, buildings, cars (standard value), security deposits, securities, and bank balances. Debts are NOT subtracted. Above 170M KRW, payments are halved.
Yes — if each program's requirements are met (EITC: under the household-specific income cap; CTC: income under 70M KRW with dependent children), both are paid together.
Unpaid taxes are offset from the credit first; only the remainder is paid out in cash. If arrears exceed the credit, nothing is paid out — resolving the arrears first may be advantageous.
South Korea's 2026 Earned Income Tax Credit (근로장려금) is a refundable credit administered by the Korean National Tax Service (NTS) for low-income Korean-resident workers and self-employed. Single-household earners under 22M KRW receive up to 1.65M KRW, single-earner families under 32M KRW up to 2.85M KRW, and dual-earner families under 38M KRW up to 3.3M KRW. The Child Tax Credit (자녀장려금) adds up to 1M KRW per dependent child for households under 70M KRW and can stack with EITC. Household assets must total below 240M KRW; 170M–240M KRW means a 50% cut. Regular filing is May 1–31, 2026, with payment at end of August. Korean wage earners may file semi-annually (Sep 1–15 for H1 with December payment; Mar 1–15 for H2 with June payment). Late filing is allowed through November 30 with a 5% reduction. File via Hometax (www.hometax.go.kr), Sontax mobile, ARS 1544-9944, or at Korean tax offices. Help line: NTS EITC/CTC Center 1566-3636.