DE · Europe ↔ KR · Asia
Germany vs South Korea: tax rates compared
South Korea's income tax rate is 2pp higher than Germany's (49.5% vs 47.5%). The 37-country average is 43.2%: both sit above it.
Verified data covers four of the six tracked tax types for both countries; every rate below is cited to its source and dated.
Income Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 47.5% | Source: OECD Tax Database — Top statutory personal income tax rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| South Korea | 49.5% | Source: OECD Tax Database — Top statutory personal income tax rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| Difference | −2 pp | South Korea higher |
Corporate Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 30.1% | Source: Tax Foundation — Worldwide Corporate Tax Rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| South Korea | 26.4% | Source: Tax Foundation — Worldwide Corporate Tax Rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| Difference | +3.7 pp | Germany higher |
Germany's corporate tax rate is 3.7pp higher than South Korea's (30.1% vs 26.4%). The 201-country average is 22.6%: both sit above it.
VAT
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 19% | Source: OECD Tax Database — VAT/GST standard rates · as of 2023-09-01 |
| South Korea | 10% | Source: OECD Tax Database — VAT/GST standard rates · as of 2023-09-01 |
| Difference | +9 pp | Germany higherlargest gap on this page |
Germany's VAT rate is 9pp higher than South Korea's (19% vs 10%). The 37-country average is 19.2%: both sit below it.
Wealth Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Germany (Individual, Other taxes) · as of 2026-06-30 |
| South Korea | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Korea, Republic of (Individual, Other taxes) · as of 2026-07-02 |
| Difference | 0 pp | displayed rates match |
Germany's wealth tax rate is identical to South Korea's — both sit at 0%. The 193-country average is 0.1%: both sit below it.
Not covered for both countries yet: Capital Gains Tax, Crypto Tax.