Tax taken off at the till: Korea's instant tax refund limits explained
One thing that confuses a lot of visitors buying cosmetics in Korea is the instant tax refund: the tax comes off right at the checkout, instead of being claimed back at the airport.
What are the limits? The government raised them from 1 January 2024:
- Per purchase: under 1,000,000 won (was 500,000)
- Total for your stay: up to 5,000,000 won (was 2,500,000)
Good to know
- You need to show your physical passport at checkout
- Not every shop offers it, so look for a Tax Free sign
- If you go over the limit or the shop doesn't do instant refunds, the usual route is claiming at the airport when you leave
- Rules can change, so check the official guidance just before your trip
Have you used the instant refund in Korea? Which stores made it easy? Drop any questions too.
Source: Taxtimes — Government raises foreign visitors' instant VAT refund limit to 5 million won
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