Korean Freelancer 3.3% Calculator
Instantly calculate the 3.3% withholding on Korean freelance income — both gross-to-net and net-to-gross.
Withholding result
- Gross payment
- 3,000,000 KRW
- Income tax (3%)
- −90,000
- Local tax (0.3%)
- −9,000
- Total withholding (3.3%)
- −99,000
Annualized (monthly basis)
Korean freelance/personal-service income is withheld 3.3% (income 3% + local 0.3%) at payment. Reconciled via the May income tax filing; refunds possible after deducting expenses.
What this tool does
The Korean freelancer 3.3% calculator computes the withholding on freelance/personal-service business income — 3.3% (3% income + 0.3% local). It converts gross to net and net to gross, with annual figures. It's a prepayment reconciled via the May income tax filing, where deducting expenses can yield a refund.
Who uses this
- Check net pay on freelance fees
- Negotiate gross vs net amounts in contracts
- Back-calculate the gross to invoice for a target net
- See annualized income and total withholding
- Review withholding totals before the May filing
How to use
- 1Enter the amount (KRW).
- 2Choose the basis. 'Gross' computes net; 'Net' back-calculates gross.
- 3See the 3% income, 0.3% local, 3.3% total, net pay, and annualized figures.
Withholding formula
Income tax = amount × 3% Local tax = amount × 0.3% Total withholding = amount × 3.3% Net = amount − withholding Reverse (net → gross): gross = net / (1 − 0.033) e.g. net 967,000 → gross 1,000,000
Real examples
Example 1: Gross 1M → net 967,000
Income tax 30,000 + local 3,000 = withholding 33,000. Net 967,000 KRW.
Example 2: Target net 3M → back-calculate gross
Gross = 3M / 0.967 ≈ 3,102,000 KRW. Invoice this to receive 3M net.
Example 3: 2M/month freelancer annualized
2M gross × 12 = 24M annual. ~792K annual withholding. Reconciled in May with expenses/deductions (refund possible).
Frequently asked questions
Is 3.3% the final tax?+
No. Withholding is a prepayment. The May income tax filing computes the real tax — refund if you have many expenses/deductions, or extra payment if income is high. 3.3% is paid in advance.
Why different from an employee's insurances?+
Freelancers are business-income earners, not employees, so there's no insurance withholding — only the 3.3% business income withholding. Health and pension are paid separately as a regional subscriber.
How much refund from deducting expenses?+
Declaring business expenses (equipment, transport, communication) lowers the tax base. Via simplified/standard expense rates or bookkeeping; with low income and high expenses, most of the withholding can be refunded.
Must I file income tax?+
Yes. Withholding alone isn't the end. Not filing in May incurs a penalty and forfeits any refund. Even with low income, filing is worthwhile for the refund.
Multiple payers withheld 3.3% — do I combine them?+
Yes. Combine all business income from every payer and file in May. Use the withholding receipts (or Hometax payment statements) to total it.
3.3% vs 8.8% (other income)?+
Continuous/repeated services are business income at 3.3%; one-off lectures/manuscripts are other income at 8.8% (after 60% deemed expenses). This tool uses the 3.3% business-income basis.
Cautions
- •3.3% is a prepayment, not the final tax — reconciled in the May filing.
- •Refund or extra payment depends on expenses and income size.
- •Health and pension are paid separately as a regional subscriber.
- •One-off income (lectures, manuscripts) is other income at 8.8%.
- •Combine income from multiple payers when filing.
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Last reviewed: 2026-05-30