WorldTax Compareโ† All Comparisons

South Korea vs United States
Tax Rate Comparison

Enter your income below for a personal tax estimate, then scroll down for full rate breakdowns.

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท South Korea
vs
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ United States
Tax Year:

๐Ÿ’ฐ Personal Income Tax Calculator

Enter your income to see your estimated annual tax liability in each country โ€” side by side.

Enter your annual income above to see your personal tax comparison โ†’
Individual Income Tax (Top Marginal Rate)
Top Income Tax Rate
6โ€“45%
Stable; political debate on top rate reduction
No change
10โ€“37%
TCJA provisions extended; no sunset
No change
VAT / GST / Sales Tax
VAT / GST / Sales Tax
10%
Standard 10% maintained
No change
0โ€“11%
No federal sales tax; state avg ~6โ€“9%
No change
Corporate Tax Rate
Corporate Tax Rate
9โ€“24%
Competitiveness discussions vs global peers
No change
21%
Federal flat; proposals to raise to 28% stalled
No change
Capital Gains Tax
Capital Gains Tax
0โ€“45%
Financial income taxation reform continuing
No change
0โ€“20%
+ 3.8% NIIT; thresholds inflation-adjusted
No change
Social Security & Payroll
Social Security / Payroll
~18.5%
Contribution rates stable; pension reform discussion
No change
~15.3%
SS wage base ~$180,000 est. 2026
No change
State, Regional & Local Taxes

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท 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.

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ United States โ€” State & Local Taxes

The U.S. has 50 states each setting their own income tax (0%โ€“13.3%). California tops at 13.3%, while Texas, Florida, and Nevada levy no state income tax. NYC adds its own income tax (up to 3.876%). Sales taxes vary from 0% (Oregon) to over 11% combined. Property taxes are primarily local. Some states like Washington have introduced capital gains levies.

โš ๏ธ Disclaimer: Rates shown are standard top/headline rates for informational purposes. Actual tax liability depends on income level, residency, deductions, and tax treaties. 2025โ€“2026 data reflects announced or enacted rates and may be subject to change. Not financial or legal advice.

South Korea vs United States: Key Tax Differences (2026)

๐Ÿ’ฐ Income Tax: ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท South Korea has a higher top income tax rate (6โ€“45% vs 10โ€“37%). ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ United States is more favourable for high earners.

๐Ÿ›’ VAT/Sales Tax: United States has a higher consumption tax (10% vs 0โ€“11%).

๐Ÿข Corporate Tax: ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ United States offers a lower corporate rate (21% vs 24%), which can influence business location decisions.

๐Ÿ“ˆ Capital Gains: ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ United States taxes investment gains at a lower rate (20% vs 45%), benefiting investors.

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