Korea tax-free shopping refund calculator
Korea's tax refund is not a flat 10%. It follows a table of 80 price bands, so a 100,000 KRW receipt returns 7,000 KRW. Enter your receipts to see the expected refund and which counters can handle them.
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How the refund is worked out
Prices in Korea include 10% VAT. When a foreign visitor buys goods at a TAX FREE store and takes them out of the country, that VAT can be refunded, less the refund operator's fee. For purchases below 6,000,000 KRW the amount is read from a fixed table per receipt. From 6,000,000 KRW the refund is 90% of the VAT, rounded down below 100 won. Sample rows from the Global Tax Free table:
| Receipt total (KRW) | Refund (KRW) | Share of price |
|---|---|---|
| 15,000 | 1,000 | 6.7% |
| 30,000 | 2,000 | 6.7% |
| 50,000 | 3,000 | 6.0% |
| 100,000 | 7,000 | 7.0% |
| 200,000 | 12,000 | 6.0% |
| 300,000 | 19,000 | 6.3% |
| 500,000 | 35,000 | 7.0% |
| 750,000 | 53,000 | 7.1% |
| 1,000,000 | 75,000 | 7.5% |
| 2,000,000 | 150,000 | 7.5% |
| 3,000,000 | 225,000 | 7.5% |
| 5,000,000 | 390,000 | 7.8% |
The table used here is the one Global Tax Free publishes (80 bands, version dated 24 August 2026). Other operators may publish their own tables, so treat the result as a close estimate; your receipt shows which operator handles your refund.
Where you can claim
| Where | When | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| In the store (instant refund) | At payment | Under 1,000,000 KRW per receipt and up to 5,000,000 KRW in total during your stay |
| Downtown refund counter | Any time before departure | Up to 6,000,000 KRW per transaction |
| Airport kiosk or counter | Departure day, after customs confirmation | Goods must be shown if requested |
| Airport refund mailbox | Departure day | Confirmed documents are dropped in; the refund arrives after you leave |
Rules that catch people out
- 15,000 KRW minimum per receipt. Two receipts from the same store are not added together.
- Look for the TAX FREE sign at the store and bring your passport.
- Take the goods out within three months. If earlier purchases have not left the country in that time, instant refunds on later purchases are not available.
- Goods only. Restaurant meals and services are not covered; hotel stays follow a separate scheme.
Step-by-step instructions are in the tax-free shopping guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is the refund 10% of the price?
No. The VAT in the price is about 9.1% of the total, and the operator deducts a fee, so the refund is lower. For a 100,000 KRW receipt the table gives 7,000 KRW.
What is the minimum purchase for a refund?
15,000 KRW on a single receipt.
Can I add up receipts from the same store?
No. Each receipt is assessed on its own, and splitting a purchase into several small receipts does not create eligibility.
Do I need to be at the airport?
Not always. Instant and downtown refunds are handled before departure, but goods still have to leave Korea within three months.