IE · EuropeKR · Asia
Ireland vs South Korea: tax rates compared
Between the two, South Korea's income tax rate (49.5%) tops Ireland's (48%) by 1.5pp. The 200-country average is 28%: both sit above it.
Verified data covers six of the six tracked tax types for both countries; every rate below is cited to its source and dated.
At a glance
| Tax | IE | KR | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income Tax | 48% | 49.5% | KR +1.5 pp |
| Corporate Tax | 12.5% | 26.4% | KR +13.9 pp |
| VAT | 23% | 10% | IE +13 pp |
| Capital Gains Tax | 33% | 0% | IE +33 pplargest gap |
| Crypto Tax | 33% | 0% | IE +33 pp |
| Wealth Tax | 0% | 0% | match |
Income Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 48% | 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 | −1.5 pp | South Korea higher |
Corporate Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 12.5% | 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 | −13.9 pp | South Korea higher |
Between the two, South Korea's corporate tax rate (26.4%) tops Ireland's (12.5%) by 13.9pp. The 201-country average is 22.6%: Ireland sits below it, South Korea sits above it.
VAT
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 23% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Ireland (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-03-06 |
| South Korea | 10% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Korea, Republic of (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-06-04 |
| Difference | +13 pp | Ireland higher |
Between the two, Ireland's VAT rate (23%) tops South Korea's (10%) by 13pp. The 181-country average is 15%: Ireland sits above it, South Korea sits below it.
Capital Gains Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 33% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Ireland (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2026-03-06 |
| South Korea | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Korea, Republic of (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2026-07-02 |
| Difference | +33 pp | Ireland higher |
Between the two, Ireland's capital gains tax rate (33%) tops South Korea's (0%) by 33pp. The 175-country average is 10.3%: Ireland sits above it, South Korea sits below it.
Crypto Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 33% | Source: Irish Revenue — Tax and Duty Manual Part 02-01-03: Taxation of Crypto-Asset Transactions · as of 2026-01-01 |
| South Korea | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Korea, Republic of (Corporate, Income determination — Income from virtual assets) · as of 2026-06-04 |
| Difference | +33 pp | Ireland higher |
Between the two, Ireland's crypto tax rate (33%) tops South Korea's (0%) by 33pp. The 88-country average is 13%: Ireland sits above it, South Korea sits below it.
Wealth Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Ireland (Individual, Other taxes) · as of 2026-03-06 |
| 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 |
There's no gap here — Ireland and South Korea both post a wealth tax rate of 0%. The 193-country average is 0.1%: both sit below it.