' Earned Income and Child Tax Credits': 260,000 Households That Missed May's Application Deadline Can Apply Through Dec. 1

NTS Sends Notices to Households That Have Not Applied
Additional 10,000 Households Identified as Potentially Eligible Also Notified
Apply by December 1 to Receive Credits on January 15, 2027

Households that did not apply for the Earned Income Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit in May this year must apply by December 1 to receive the credits. The National Tax Service (NTS) will review applicants' income, assets and other details, and plans to pay the credits on January 15, 2027.

On November 2, the NTS said it would send notices about late applications to 260,000 households that have not yet applied for the "2025 Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit."

An NTS official said, "Households that receive a notice can apply by December 1. They must apply by the deadline, as applications will no longer be accepted after it. Starting this year, we also analyzed income records collected after the notices for the regular May application period went out and included an additional 10,000 households identified as potentially eligible for the credits." The NTS will review applicants' income, assets and other details and pay 95% of the calculated amount—a 5% reduction—on January 15, 2027.

To qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, a household's combined income for a couple in 2025 must be below KRW 22 million for a single-person household, KRW 32 million for a single-income household, or KRW 44 million for a dual-income household. The Child Tax Credit is available to households with children under 18 whose combined income for a couple is below KRW 70 million.

For both credits, the total assets of all household members must be below KRW 240 million as of June 1, 2025; debt is not deducted. Households with total assets of at least KRW 170 million but less than KRW 240 million will receive only 50% of the calculated amount.

The Earned Income Tax Credit ranges from a minimum of KRW 30,000 to a maximum of KRW 1.65 million for a single-person household, KRW 2.85 million for a single-income household, and KRW 3.3 million for a dual-income household. The Child Tax Credit ranges from a minimum of KRW 500,000 to a maximum of KRW 1 million per dependent child. Even if a household applies after receiving a notice, the credit may not be paid, or the amount may differ from the estimate in the notice, depending on the review of all household members' financial assets and other details.

Applicants can apply using the QR code on a mailed notice, the "Apply" option in a mobile notice, or the automated response service (ARS). Those who did not receive a notice but believe they meet the income and asset requirements can apply through Hometax on a PC or mobile device, attaching supporting documents such as an income confirmation issued by their employer.

Young people who earned temporary income from part-time or day labor, as well as those who have since retired, may qualify if they had employment, business, or religious-income earnings in 2025. Older people and others who have difficulty using a mobile device or PC can get help applying through the Tax Credit Consultation Center. They can also seek advice through the consultation center or the 24-hour automated response service.

Taking into account increases in the minimum wage and rising prices, the government will expand the Earned Income Tax Credit program starting with the 2027 tax year so that more households can receive the credit. Under the 2026 tax law amendment proposal, the maximum credit will rise to KRW 1.8 million for a single-person household, KRW 3.1 million for a single-income household, and KRW 3.6 million for a dual-income household. The income thresholds will also be raised to below KRW 26 million, KRW 37 million, and KRW 52 million, respectively.

The NTS said it will continue working to ensure that every potentially eligible household receives support by providing detailed notices to households that may qualify and tailoring outreach to the characteristics of different groups, including young people, in line with the program's expansion.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.