Korea Tax Refund FAQ

Korea charges a 10% VAT (Value Added Tax) on most goods. As a tourist, you are entitled to a refund on this tax when you purchase eligible items at registered tax-free stores and take those items out of the country. The average refund is roughly 6–9% of your purchase price after service fees are deducted.

You are eligible if you meet all of the following:

• You are a foreign national (non-Korean passport) visiting Korea as a tourist
• You have stayed in Korea for less than 6 months in the past year
• You are departing Korea with the purchased items within 3 months of purchase
• You purchased at a registered tax-free store

Only stores registered with one of the official tax refund operators. Look for these logos at the entrance or checkout counter:

• Global Blue – the most widely accepted, especially at department stores
• Global Tax Free (GTF) – very common in Myeongdong and tourist areas
• Easy Tax Refund – found in smaller boutiques
• NICE Tax Free – common in Dongdaemun market area

Popular chains like Olive Young, Daiso, Lotte Department Store, Shinsegae, and major cosmetics brands almost always participate.

The minimum is ₩15,000 per store per transaction (increased from ₩30,000 as of 2024). However, to get an immediate city refund (cash at a kiosk before the airport), you need a single-store total under ₩1,000,000. Purchases over ₩1M per receipt must be processed at the airport customs desk.

At checkout, show your passport and tell the cashier you want a tax refund. They will print a tax refund receipt (T/R form) attached to your regular receipt. Keep both documents safely — without the T/R form, you cannot claim your refund. Most stores keep the form in a special envelope for you.

City Refund (Immediate Refund):

• Get cash at a kiosk or refund desk in the city (Myeongdong, Hongdae, shopping malls, etc.)
• Only available for purchases under ₩1,000,000 per receipt
• A credit card deposit is held as collateral and released after you scan at the airport
• You still MUST scan at the airport before leaving

Airport Refund:

• Claim at Incheon or Gimpo Airport on departure day
• Required for receipts over ₩1,000,000 or if you didn't get a city refund
• No credit card deposit needed

Yes! Korean cosmetics (K-beauty products) are among the most commonly refunded items. Stores like Olive Young, Innisfree, Etude, COSRX, Sulwhasoo, and most cosmetics brands at department stores are registered tax-free retailers. Just show your passport at checkout and request the refund form.

Generally no. Food consumed in Korea (restaurants, cafes, convenience stores) is not eligible for VAT refunds. However, packaged food items purchased at registered stores that are taken home unopened may qualify in some cases. Alcohol and tobacco are also excluded.

At Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 (T1):

• Customs Declaration counter: 3rd floor departure area, before check-in
• Refund collection (after security): near Gate 28

At Terminal 2 (T2):

• Customs Declaration: 3rd floor, before check-in
• Refund collection: near Gates 249–253

The self-service kiosk process:

• Step 1: Insert your passport to verify your identity
• Step 2: Scan each tax refund receipt/form
• Step 3: Choose your refund method (cash in KRW, USD, or CNY — or credit card refund)
• Step 4: Collect your cash or confirm your card refund

Yes, you must still scan at the airport. The city refund is an advance — your credit card is charged a deposit. When you scan your passport and forms at the airport kiosk before departure, the system confirms you're leaving Korea with the goods and releases the card deposit. If you skip this step, you will be charged the full refund amount back to your card, plus a penalty.

At most airport kiosks, you can choose:

• 🇰🇷 KRW (Korean Won) – cash
• 🇺🇸 USD (US Dollars) – cash
• 🇨🇳 CNY (Chinese Yuan) – cash
• 💳 Credit card refund – back to your original card (may take 2–4 weeks)

Korea's VAT rate is 10%, but refund operators charge a service fee, so you typically receive:

• ₩15,000 – ₩75,000 spent: ~6–7.5% back
• ₩75,001 – ₩300,000 spent: ~7.5–8.5% back
• Over ₩300,000 spent: ~8.5–9% back

Use our Refund Calculator to get an exact estimate for your purchase amount.

There is no official maximum on total refunds per trip. However:

• Purchases over ₩1,000,000 per single receipt cannot be done as a city (immediate) refund — they must be processed at the airport
• Total purchases exceeding ₩5,000,000 in a single trip may require additional customs documentation

Yes, most goods including luxury handbags, electronics, clothing, and accessories are eligible — as long as they are purchased at a registered tax-free store. Electronics (Samsung, LG products, etc.) at duty-free or registered department stores qualify. Note that some items have restrictions:

• Consumables opened in Korea are excluded
• Alcohol and tobacco are excluded
• Services (massages, hotels, transportation) are excluded

Common reasons for refund rejection:

• 🧾 Missing or invalid refund form – the T/R receipt was not issued at the store
• 📅 Expired form – the 3-month purchase window has passed
• 📦 Opened or used items – packaging was opened before airport customs
• 🏪 Non-registered store – the store was not an authorized tax-free retailer
• 🪪 Residency status – the passport holder is a Korean resident or long-term visa holder
• 💰 Below minimum purchase – under ₩15,000 per store

If you received a city refund but forgot to scan at the airport, the held credit card deposit will be charged back to your card, often with an additional penalty fee. Some refund operators allow you to submit forms by mail within 3 months, but this is not guaranteed. Contact the refund operator (Global Blue, GTF, etc.) as soon as possible after departure.

If you have receipts from smaller operators like Easy Tax Refund, Cube Refund, or SJ Duty Free that don't have their own kiosks, go to the General Refund Counter at the airport. This counter handles all brands not covered by self-service kiosks. At Incheon T1, look for the General Counter near the custom examination area on the 3rd floor.

It depends on the store and operator. Some stores can reissue the form if you return before departure with the original purchase receipt. However, once you have left Korea, reissuance is generally not possible. Contact the refund operator's customer service with your purchase receipt details as soon as you realize the form is missing.

Credit card refunds typically take 2–6 weeks to appear on your statement, depending on your card issuer and country. If you haven't received it after 6 weeks, contact the refund operator directly:

• Global Blue: globalblue.com → Customer Service
• Global Tax Free: globalttax.com
• Easy Tax Refund: easytaxrefund.co.kr

Have your refund receipt reference number ready.