Korea Property Acquisition Tax Calculator
Enter the purchase price and property type to estimate acquisition tax, local education tax, and Special Rural Development Tax. Officetel units are not classified as “housing” under Korea's Local Tax Act and follow a different rate structure, so they are calculated separately.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check whether a property is in a regulated area?
Regulated areas are designated and lifted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport based on real estate market conditions. You can look up the address of the property you intend to acquire on Wetax or the Ministry's Real Estate Information Portal. For a 1-home purchase, regulated area status does not affect the tax rate.
Why does the rate differ for 2-home owners?
A 2-home owner pays 8% (surcharge rate) for a property in a regulated area, or the standard rate (1–3%) as if buying a first home in a non-regulated area. A 3-home owner pays 12% in a regulated area and 8% outside. Four or more homes or a corporation is taxed at 12% regardless of location.
Why are local education tax and Special Rural Development Tax charged separately?
Local education tax and Special Rural Development Tax are levied as surcharges on top of acquisition tax. At the standard rate (1–3%), local education tax equals 10% of the acquisition tax rate; at the surcharge rate (8% or 12%), a flat 0.4% applies instead. Special Rural Development Tax is charged only on homes exceeding 85㎡ in exclusive area: 0.2% at the standard rate, 0.6% at the 8% surcharge, and 1.0% at the 12% surcharge.
Why is the rate different for officetel units?
Officetel units are classified as "business facilities" under the Building Act and Housing Act, meaning they are not "housing" under Korea's Local Tax Act. The preferential rates for residential property transactions (1–3%) and the multi-home surcharge rates (8% or 12%) therefore do not apply; instead, the general real estate acquisition tax rate of 4% always applies, regardless of how many homes are owned or whether the area is regulated. Adding local education tax (0.4%) and Special Rural Development Tax (0.2%) gives the commonly cited total of 4.6%. Note that whether a residential officetel counts toward the home count when other housing is acquired is a separate issue (applicable to some cases acquired on or after 12 August 2020); this calculator covers only the acquisition tax on the officetel itself.
Are the temporary 2-home exemption or first-time buyer reduction reflected?
No. A temporary 2-home situation — where an existing home is sold within a specified period as part of a move — may qualify for the standard single-home rate. A first-time home purchase may also be eligible for a separate reduction. If either applies to you, verify the exact tax amount through Wetax or a tax professional.