VAT refund for foreign visitors
Foreign visitors can reclaim the value-added tax and individual consumption tax paid on goods bought in Korea. It runs as two systems: an immediate refund deducted at the till, and a general refund claimed after buying at the tax-inclusive price.
- Set by
- Korea Tourism Organization, publishing the National Tax Service scheme
- Applies in
- Republic of Korea
Rules
- Minimum purchase
- A purchase must be KRW 15,000 or more to qualify for a refund.
- Korea Tourism Organization — Comprehensive Tax Refund Guide ·
- Immediate refund limit
- The immediate refund, deducted at the till, applies while a single transaction is under KRW 1 million and the total is KRW 5 million or less.
- Korea Tourism Organization — Comprehensive Tax Refund Guide ·
- Downtown refund limit
- A downtown refund, at a staffed counter or an unmanned kiosk, applies to a single transaction of KRW 6 million or less.
- Korea Tourism Organization — Comprehensive Tax Refund Guide ·
- What to bring
- A downtown refund needs a passport, the refund voucher and a credit card. On departure, the goods, the voucher and the passport are shown to customs for an export declaration.
- Korea Tourism Organization — Comprehensive Tax Refund Guide ·
- Export deadline
- Goods must leave the country within three months, and are not eligible if they have been opened or used before then.
- Korea Tourism Organization — Comprehensive Tax Refund Guide ·