South Korea vs Hong Kong
Tax Rate Comparison
Enter your income below for a personal tax estimate, then scroll down for full rate breakdowns.
๐ฐ Personal Income Tax Calculator
Enter your income to see your estimated annual tax liability in each country โ side by side.
๐ฐ๐ท South Korea โ Local Income Tax & Resident Tax
South Korea's 17 metropolitan/provincial governments levy local income tax at 10% of national income tax. Property holding tax (Jongbu-se) is a national progressive tax on higher-value properties. Local education taxes and acquisition taxes apply to property transfers. Seoul has higher effective rates due to property values.
๐ญ๐ฐ Hong Kong โ No Sub-Regional Tax Variation
Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region with a simple, low-tax structure. There are no sub-regional taxes. Profits tax applies only to profits arising in or derived from Hong Kong (territorial basis). Property rates are charged at ~5% of assessed rental value. Estate duty was abolished in 2006. Stamp duty on property has been progressively modified since 2022 to cool/stimulate the market. There is no VAT, capital gains tax, or withholding tax on dividends.
South Korea vs Hong Kong: Key Tax Differences (2026)
๐ฐ Income Tax: ๐ฐ๐ท South Korea has a higher top income tax rate (6โ45% vs 2โ17%). ๐ญ๐ฐ Hong Kong is more favourable for high earners.
๐ VAT/Sales Tax: South Korea has a higher consumption tax (10% vs 0%).
๐ข Corporate Tax: ๐ญ๐ฐ Hong Kong offers a lower corporate rate (16.5% vs 24%), which can influence business location decisions.
๐ Capital Gains: ๐ญ๐ฐ Hong Kong taxes investment gains at a lower rate (0% vs 45%), benefiting investors.