About this tool
This calculator checks whether an overseas online purchase is duty-free in Korea and estimates the tax if it is not.
Duty-free treatment applies only to items for personal use.
For list clearance (the simple route) the limit is 150 USD, or 200 USD for goods shipped from the United States, and the amount judged is the item price plus tax and shipping inside the seller's country.
For general import declaration the limit is 150 USD and international freight is added.
If the amount is over the limit, there is no deduction: customs duty applies to the whole taxable value (price plus shipping and insurance, converted to KRW), and VAT of 10% applies to the taxable value plus the duty.
For example, at a rate you enter of 1,400 KRW per USD, a 180 USD item bought from a country other than the US with a 13% duty rate has a taxable value of 252,000 KRW, duty of 32,760 KRW and VAT of 28,476 KRW, for about 61,236 KRW in total.
Duty rates depend on the item and origin, so this tool has no default; enter the rate for your item.
Expensive bags, watches, jewelry and perfume can also carry special consumption tax that is not included here, and medicines, supplements and food must go through general declaration.
Use the Customs Service's weekly tax exchange rate for the exchange rate.
The result is an estimate for reference, was not provided or verified by the Korea Customs Service, and does not replace advice from a customs broker.
How to use
- Enter the item price in USD, and optional seller-country and international shipping.
- Enter the Customs Service exchange rate, and say whether it ships from the US and which clearance method.
- Enter your item's duty rate, then read whether it is duty-free.
- If it is over the limit, read the duty, VAT and total, and check the Customs Service tax estimator.