Tax Refunds

1. What's a tax refund?

In Korea, sales taxes are included in the purchase price of each product. If you’re a visitor to Korea (non-resident) and are taking goods out of the country, you may be eligible for a tax refund upon your departure.

● Refundable taxes: VAT/sales tax (10%) and special taxes on high-priced goods (jewelry, etc.)
● Refund Eligibility
Purchases:
· Purchases at each retail store must total 30,000 won or more (inclusive of tax).  
· Goods must be purchased within 3 months of departure from Korea. 

Visitor Status:
· Must be an international who has been residing/visiting in Korea for less than six months; or
· Be an overseas Korean (holder of Korean passport and permanent resident) residing in/visiting Korea for less than 3 months; or 
· Be a Korean student studying abroad for three years or more.
 
2. Procedures

Step 1

Make a purchase of 30,000 won or more at a participating retail store. Participating stores are designated by the “Global Blue TAX FREE” or “GLOBAL TAXFREE” logo. Many participating shops can be found in popular tourist shopping areas such as the Myeongdong and Dongdaemun areas.

After your purchase, show the sales assistant your passport and ask him or her to issue and sign a refund form. 

*Make sure to collect a refund slip from each participating store each time you make a purchase.

Step 2

When checking-in at the airport, declare the purchased goods at customs and get the "ALL GOODS EXPORTED" endorsement from customs on your refund forms.
  
Notes:
- For checked baggage: 
  ① When getting your boarding pass, tell the airline personnel that you have goods for which you need the customs endorsement. 
  ② Get a baggage tag from the airline personnel and attach it to the bag you want to check-in (don't check-in the bag yet as you need to show it to customs).
  ③ Proceed to the oversize baggage check-in counter (located in sections J and D).
④ Present the goods and refund forms to the customs officer at the counter to get approval.
⑤ You can now check-in your bag at the counter.


- For carry-ons:
  ① Get your boarding pass.
  ② Present the purchased goods and refund forms to the customs officer at the oversize baggage check-in counter (located in sections J and D or Gate 1, 2, 3, and 4).

Step 3

① After going through customs, proceed to the Refund Counter on the departure floor to get your cash refund. 

② If you are using an airport or seaport where there is no refund counter, or if the refund counter is closed, place your forms in the designated mailbox (after receiving your endorsement from customs). Your refund will be sent by post (via money order) or directly deposited in the bank account associated with your credit card. Please allow one or two months for payment.

(*Note: Go to Global Blue counter for refunds on goods purchased at Global Blue TAX FREE stores; Go to the GLOBAL TAXFREE counter for refunds on goods purchased at GLOBAL TAXFREE stores. )

3. Refund Counter Information

Global Blue

▪ Incheon International Airport: refund counter (3F, departure floor, in front of gate 28)
▪ Gimpo International Airport: credit refund counter only (2F, Delivery point of Deposited goods)
▪ Gimhae International Airport: refund counter (2F, departure floor, in front of gate 4)
▪ Busan Port International Passenger Terminal: refund counter (2F, departure floor)
▪ Incheon Port International Passenger Terminal(Port 1): refund counter (3F, departure floor)
▪ Incheon Port International Passenger Terminal(Port 2): refund counter (1F, departure floor)
▪ Cheongju International Airport, Daegu International Airport, Jeju International Airport: Use the designated mailbox as there is no refund counter.
▪ Gwangju International Airport, Mokpo International Airport: There is no refund counter or mailbox, but customs officers will take your refund forms and mail them to the Global Blue Korea office.   
▪ For more information (English only):
   Website: www.global-blue.com
   E-mail: taxfree.kr@global-blue.com

Seoul Office
Tel: +82-2-776-2170
Fax: +82-2-776-2172
Address: (100-070)#1402, Seoul Center Bldg., 91-1, Sogong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea

Refund Counter at Incheon International Airport
Tel: +82-32-743-4140
Fax: +82-32-743-4141
Address: (400-700) Gate 28, 2850 Wounseo-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon, Korea

GLOBAL TAXFREE
▪ Incheon International Airport: Refund counter
(F3, departure floor, in front of gate 28 - to be opened in April 2011)
▪ Gimhae International Airport: Refund counter (2F, turn right after passing immigration)
▪ Gimpo International Airport, Incheon Port International Passenger Terminal, Busan Port International Passenger Terminal:
   Use the designated mailbox as there is no refund counter.
▪ Jeju International Airport, Cheongju International Airport, Pyeongtaek Port International Passenger Terminal: Mailbox to be installed
   If there is no mailbox, or if you forget to use the mailbox, please send your documents by post. 
▪ For more information:
   Website : www.taxfreekorea.kr
   E-mail : gtf@global-taxfree.com

Seoul Office
Tel:+82-2-518-0837
Fax:+82-2-518-0887
Address : (110-110)19, Gwanghwamun Office, Seolin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea

Gimhae International Airport Refund Counter
Tel: +82-51-941-0837
Fax: +82-51-941-0838
Address: (618-142) 2F, New international Airport 2350, Dae-Jeo 2dong, Gangseo-gu, Busan, Korea


Last updated on November 12, 2012