Acquisition Tax Calculator
Compute Korean real estate acquisition tax with surcharges. Enter the price, property type, number of homes owned, and adjusted-area status.
Use the contract price unless lower than the official assessed value, in which case the assessed value applies.
Total tax
5,500,000KRW
1.00% applied
- Acquisition tax
- 5,000,000KRW
- Education surtax
- 500,000KRW×10%
- Rural surtax
- 0KRWexempt
- Case
- Residential ≤ 600M — base 1%
- Effective rate (total / price)
- 1.10%
- Residential base progressive rate 1%
- Floor area ≤ 85㎡ — rural surtax exempt
What is acquisition tax?
Acquisition tax is a local tax levied when acquiring real estate, vehicles, machinery, etc. For real estate, the Local Tax Act applies rates ranging from 1% to 12% depending on acquisition price, cause (purchase/gift/inheritance), and the acquirer's number of homes. For home purchases by 1-home owners, rates are progressive: 1% (up to KRW 600M) to 3% (above KRW 900M). For multi-home owners in regulated areas, heavy rates of 8% (2 homes) or 12% (3+ homes) may apply. Gifts are 3.5% regardless of value or relationship; inheritance is generally 2.8% (separate rates for farmland, etc.). In addition to acquisition tax, Special Tax for Rural Development (10% of acquisition tax), Local Education Tax (about 4%), and registration license tax are added, bringing the total burden to roughly 1.1–1.2× the acquisition tax shown here. The filing and payment deadline is 60 days from acquisition (6 months for inheritance). Missing the deadline triggers a 20% non-filing penalty plus late-payment interest. Reduction programs (first-home buyer, newlyweds) change yearly — verify at Wetax or the local tax office.
When is this calculator useful?
Estimating costs when buying a home
Estimate acquisition tax and registration costs in addition to the purchase price for total funding planning. Check the progressive impact at the KRW 600M / 900M boundaries.
Multi-home purchase consideration
Multi-home purchases in regulated areas face heavy rates of 8–12%. Compare the difference against general rates with this calculator.
Gift and inheritance acquisition
Gifts use a flat 3.5% and inheritance generally 2.8%, which can exceed the rate for purchases at low values. Useful when deciding between gift and inheritance.
Eligibility-based reductions
Compare with and without reductions for first-home buyers and newlyweds. Policies change frequently — verify at Wetax.
Rate summary
| Case | Rate |
|---|---|
| Residential ≤ 600M — base 1% | 1.0% |
| Residential 600M–900M progressive (1–3%) | 1.0% – 3.0% (linear progressive) |
| Residential > 900M — base 3% | 3.0% |
| Multi-home surcharge 8% | 8.0% |
| Multi-home surcharge 12% | 12.0% |
| Non-residential flat 4% | 4.0% |
All cases add a 10% education surtax (on acquisition tax) and a 0.2% rural surtax (on price), except residential ≤ 85㎡ at base rates.
How to read the result
The result is composed of: • Acquisition price: purchase price, gift value, or inherited property value. • Cause: rate depends on purchase / gift / inheritance. • Number of homes: heavy rates apply for multi-home owners in regulated areas. • Applied rate: the final rate determined by the combination above. • Calculated acquisition tax: acquisition price × applied rate. The actual total burden includes acquisition tax + Special Tax for Rural Development (10% of acquisition tax) + Local Education Tax (about 4%) + registration license tax, reaching roughly 1.1–1.2× the figure shown here.
Worked examples
1-home owner, KRW 750M purchase (progressive rate in the KRW 600M-900M band)
Assume: purchase price KRW 750M, 1-home owner (unregulated area), unit 85㎡ or less. ① The KRW 600M-900M band uses the formula (price in 100M × 2/3 − 3)/100 → yields roughly a 2% rate here ② Acquisition tax = 750M × 2% = KRW 15M ③ Local education tax (10% of acquisition tax) = KRW 1.5M ④ 85㎡ or less + standard progressive rate → special rural tax exempt (KRW 0) ⑤ Total due = 15M + 1.5M = KRW 16.5M (effective rate ≈ 2.2%)
2nd home in a regulated area, KRW 500M purchase (8% heavy rate)
Assume: purchase price KRW 500M, acquiring a 2nd home in a regulated area. ① A 2nd home in a regulated area gets the 8% heavy rate → acquisition tax = 500M × 8% = KRW 40M ② Local education tax (10%) = KRW 4M ③ Under the heavy rate, special rural tax of 0.2% applies regardless of unit size = KRW 1M ④ Total due = 40M + 4M + 1M = KRW 45M (effective rate 9%) At the same KRW 500M price, a 1-home owner (1-3% progressive) and a 2nd-home owner in a regulated area (8% heavy) can face a 4x+ difference in tax burden.
Things to keep in mind
- This calculator computes only the base acquisition tax. Special Tax for Rural Development, Local Education Tax, and registration license tax are added separately, making the total burden 1.1–1.2× the result.
- Heavy rates for multi-home owners apply based on home count within regulated areas; outside those areas, general rates apply.
- Reduction programs (first-home buyer, newlyweds) change yearly — confirm with Wetax or the local tax office right before purchase.
- Non-residential acquisitions (land, shops, factories) generally use a 4% rate; special assets like farmland have separate rates.
- Filing/payment deadline is 60 days from acquisition (6 months for inheritance). Missing it triggers a 20% non-filing penalty plus late-payment interest.
- Foreign acquirers may face different rates depending on residence status (permanent residence, marriage immigration, etc.). Verify your immigration status.
Frequently asked questions
- When is acquisition tax due?
- You must file and pay within 60 days of acquisition (the earlier of the balance-payment date or registration date) at the relevant city/county/district office. Missing the deadline triggers a 20% non-filing penalty plus a daily late-payment penalty.
- How do I check whether an area is regulated (adjusted)?
- MOLIT designates these annually. As of January 2024, only Seoul's Gangnam, Seocho, Songpa, and Yongsan districts are regulated — everywhere else is unregulated. Policy changes frequently, so check the latest MOLIT notice at the time of purchase.
- What about temporary 2-home status?
- If you commit to selling your existing home within a set period (usually 2 years), you're recognized as a temporary 2-home owner and the new home gets the standard progressive rate instead of the surcharge. This calculator does not model this — check with your local city/county/district office.
- Is there a first-time home buyer reduction?
- Yes. First-time buyers who meet all timing, income, and home-price requirements can get acquisition tax reduced by up to KRW 2M (or a set percentage) under a time-limited program. Since the requirements and cap change often, this calculator does not model the reduction — check current eligibility on Wetax (wetax.go.kr) or the latest Ministry of the Interior and Safety notice.
- Can a multi-home owner still get the 1% rate when buying an additional home?
- No. A multi-home owner (2+ homes) buying another home faces an 8% (2nd home) or 12% (3rd+ home) heavy rate in regulated areas, and the standard progressive rate (1-3%) in unregulated areas.
- Where and how do I file acquisition tax?
- File via Wetax (wetax.go.kr) or the tax division of the city/county/district office where the property is located. A judicial scrivener handling your registration typically files it for you, usually paid before registration.
- Do I pay acquisition tax on gifted real estate?
- Yes. On top of gift tax (a national tax), a separate acquisition tax (local tax) of 3.5% plus special rural tax and local education tax applies. This calculator only computes purchase-based acquisition, since gift/inheritance rates differ — check those separately.
- Why is special rural tax sometimes exempt?
- It's exempt when a home of 85㎡ or less is acquired under the standard progressive rate. If the unit exceeds 85㎡, or a multi-home surcharge (8%/12%) applies, a 0.2% special rural tax is charged regardless of size.
- How is the number of owned homes counted for the surcharge?
- All homes nationwide are counted together, not just those in the purchase area. Pre-sale rights and move-in rights acquired since 2021 also count toward your home count. Exceptions like temporary 2-home status can still avoid the surcharge if the requirements are met.
- What happens if I miss the acquisition tax deadline?
- Failing to file within 60 days of acquisition triggers a 20% non-filing penalty, plus a 0.022%-per-day late-payment penalty that keeps accruing. Even if you can't pay in full, filing on time reduces the penalties you'll owe.
Official Sources
Always verify with the official sources below