South Korea Dividend Withholding Tax
Complete guide for international investors — rates, reclaim deadlines, and which forms to file.
Last updated 2026-08-12
South Korea withholds 22.0% on dividends paid to non-resident investors. If you live in a country with a tax treaty, you can reclaim the difference between that rate and your treaty rate (typically 15%) — up to 7.0 percentage points — by filing a refund claim with the National Tax Service (국세청) within 5 years.
About South Korea's Withholding Tax
South Korea's 22% non-treaty dividend and interest withholding rate is composite — 20% national tax (소득세법 §156) plus a 10% local income surtax (지방세법 §89) levied on that tax, 20% x 1.10 = 22%. Since 1 January 2024, the Foreign Omnibus Account regime (소득세법 §119의4) has forbidden relief at source for investors holding Korean securities through a foreign omnibus account — the norm for most non-resident retail holders — and requires the withholding agent to withhold the full 22% regardless of any tax treaty, forcing every treaty benefit into a post-payment correction claim instead of prevention up front. Korea genuinely publishes a claimant-fileable post-payment refund form (Form No. 29-14, 제한세율 적용을 위한 경정청구서), and the beneficial owner may file it directly rather than through the payer — but Tax Reclaim does not generate that form yet. Until it does, the recoverable amount is claimed through your own residence country's foreign tax credit for the Korean tax withheld. The correction claim itself runs 5 years from the 11th day of the month after the tax was withheld.
Reclaim by Investor Residence Country
How much investors from each country can reclaim from South Korea's 22.0% withholding tax. Click your residence country for a detailed guide.
| Your residence country | Standard WHT | Treaty rate | Reclaimable | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸United States | 22.0% | 15% | 7.0% | |
| 🇬🇧United Kingdom | 22.0% | 15% | 7.0% | |
| 🇩🇪Germany | 22.0% | 15% | 7.0% | |
| 🇫🇷France | 22.0% | 15% | 7.0% | |
| 🇪🇸Spain | 22.0% | 15% | 7.0% | |
| 🇳🇱Netherlands | 22.0% | 15% | 7.0% | |
| 🇧🇪Belgium | 22.0% | 15% | 7.0% | |
| 🇨🇭Switzerland | 22.0% | 15% | 7.0% | |
| 🇮🇹Italy | 22.0% | 15% | 7.0% | |
| 🇸🇪Sweden | 22.0% | 15% | 7.0% | |
| 🇳🇴Norway | 22.0% | 15% | 7.0% | |
| 🇩🇰Denmark | 22.0% | 15% | 7.0% | |
| 🇫🇮Finland | 22.0% | 15% | 7.0% | |
| 🇦🇹Austria | 22.0% | 15% | 7.0% | |
| 🇵🇹Portugal | 22.0% | 15% | 7.0% | |
| 🇮🇪Ireland | 22.0% | 15% | 7.0% | |
| 🇵🇱Poland | 22.0% | 15% | 7.0% | |
| 🇱🇺Luxembourg | 22.0% | 15% | 7.0% | |
| 🇦🇺Australia | 22.0% | 15% | 7.0% | |
| 🇨🇦Canada | 22.0% | 15% | 7.0% | |
| 🇸🇬Singapore | 22.0% | 15% | 7.0% | |
| 🇯🇵Japan | 22.0% | 15% | 7.0% |
* Treaty rates shown are standard DTT dividend rates. Lower rates may apply to substantial shareholdings. Consult your tax advisor for your specific situation.
How to reclaim South Korea withholding tax
- 1
Confirm the tax withheld
Check your dividend voucher or broker statement — South Korea should show 22.0% withheld at source.
- 2
Get a certificate of tax residence
Request a certificate of tax residence from your home country's tax authority for the year the dividend was paid.
- 3
Complete the reclaim form
Fill in the South Korea reclaim form with your dividend amounts and the tax withheld.
- 4
Submit before the deadline
File your claim with the National Tax Service (국세청) within 5 years.
Frequently asked questions
How much South Korea dividend withholding tax can I reclaim?
South Korea withholds 22.0%. Investors resident in tax-treaty countries can usually reclaim down to a 15% treaty rate — about 7.0 percentage points — leaving 15% as final tax. Your exact treaty rate depends on your country of residence.
What is the deadline to reclaim South Korea withholding tax?
5 years, counted (in most cases) from the end of the year the dividend was paid. After the deadline the claim is time-barred and the overpaid tax cannot be recovered.
Do I need a certificate of tax residence?
Yes. Most tax authorities require a certificate of tax residence from your home country to grant the reduced treaty rate on a withholding tax reclaim.
Ready to reclaim your South Korea withholding tax?
Tax Reclaim generates the exact form you need, pre-filled with your dividend data.
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