Customs Duty & Tax-Free Refund Calculator
Estimate customs duty on overseas purchases shipped to Korea, or your VAT refund on shopping done while visiting Korea.
Buying something from overseas and having it shipped to Korea? Check if it stays under the duty-free threshold, and estimate the tax if it doesn’t.
USD
USD
US, by courier
FedEx/DHL/UPS express — $200 limit
Elsewhere / by mail
Any other country, or US via postal mail — $150 limit
The $200 limit only applies to express-courier shipments that originate in the US. Everything else (including US orders sent by regular international mail) uses the $150 limit.
These are common representative rates — the exact duty rate depends on the item’s HS code. Check the Korea Customs Service’s estimator for an exact figure on expensive items.
KRW/$
Customs actually uses the daily rate published by Korea Customs Service (not the market rate) — this is just for estimating your bill in KRW.
Shopping in Korea as a visitor? Most stores with a “Tax Free” sign let you reclaim the 10% VAT included in the price.
KRW
Per receipt / per store, not your whole trip total.
Estimated total tax
₩0
Amount checked against duty-free threshold$0
Taxable value (item + shipping)₩0
Customs duty₩0
Duty + 10% VAT₩0
Estimated cash refund
₩0
Real payout is usually 4–7% of your purchase, not the full 10% VAT, once the refund operator’s service fee is taken out
VAT included in your purchase (10/110)₩0
Estimated refund range₩0 – ₩0
Customs figures are estimates based on general Korea Customs Service duty-free thresholds and representative duty rates as of 2026 — actual duty depends on your item’s exact HS code, and crossing the threshold by even $1 makes the entire amount taxable, not just the excess. If several packages from the same seller arrive in Korea on the same day, they may be added together for this threshold check. Tax-free refund figures assume a standard post-purchase refund; the exact percentage depends on the refund operator (Global Blue, Global Tax Free, etc.) and their fees, and some goods (food, services, opened items) don’t qualify. For exact numbers, use the Korea Customs Service’s official estimator (customs.go.kr) or ask the store/refund kiosk directly.
$1 Over the Limit Can Tax Your Whole Order — Here’s How to Avoid It
Whether you’re ordering something from overseas to be delivered in Korea, or shopping in Korea as a visitor hoping to claim your VAT back, there’s one rule that catches almost everyone off guard: Korea’s duty-free thresholds work as a cliff, not a slope. Go $1 over the limit, and the ENTIRE amount gets taxed — not just the extra dollar.
For overseas purchases shipped to Korea:
- $150 is the general duty-free limit (postal mail, or any courier from outside the US).
- $200 applies only to express-courier shipments (FedEx/DHL/UPS) that actually originate in the US, thanks to a Korea–US FTA provision.
- Cross the limit, and you’ll owe both customs duty (rate varies by item type — clothing 13%, electronics often 0%, general goods around 8%) and 10% VAT, calculated on the item price plus shipping.
For tourists shopping in Korea:
- Most “Tax Free” stores require a minimum purchase of around ₩30,000 per receipt (some go as low as ₩15,000).
- The VAT built into your price is 10%, but your actual cash refund after the operator’s service fee is usually 4–7%, not the full 10%.
- Purchases under ₩200,000 can often be refunded instantly in-store — just show your passport at checkout.
How to use it:
- Overseas Purchase tab — enter the item price, shipping cost, shipping method, and category to check your duty-free eligibility and estimated tax if you’re over the limit.
- Tourist Refund tab — enter your purchase amount to see your eligibility and estimated refund range.
