JP · AsiaKR · Asia
Japan vs South Korea: tax rates compared
Japan has an income tax rate of 55.9%, 6.4pp above South Korea's 49.5%. 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 | JP | KR | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income Tax | 55.9% | 49.5% | JP +6.4 pp |
| Corporate Tax | 29.7% | 26.4% | JP +3.3 pp |
| VAT | 10% | 10% | match |
| Capital Gains Tax | 20.3% | 0% | JP +20.3 pp |
| Crypto Tax | 55% | 0% | JP +55 pplargest gap |
| Wealth Tax | 0% | 0% | match |
Income Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | 55.9% | 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 | +6.4 pp | Japan higher |
Corporate Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | 29.7% | 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 | +3.3 pp | Japan higher |
Japan has a corporate tax rate of 29.7%, 3.3pp above South Korea's 26.4%. The 201-country average is 22.6%: both sit above it.
VAT
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | 10% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Japan (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-01-13 |
| South Korea | 10% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Korea, Republic of (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-06-04 |
| Difference | 0 pp | displayed rates match |
Japan and South Korea share the same VAT rate: 10%. The 181-country average is 15%: both sit below it.
Capital Gains Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | 20.3% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Japan (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2026-01-13 |
| South Korea | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Korea, Republic of (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2026-07-02 |
| Difference | +20.3 pp | Japan higher |
Japan has a capital gains tax rate of 20.3%, 20.3pp above South Korea's 0%. The 175-country average is 10.3%: Japan sits above it, South Korea sits below it.
Crypto Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | 55% | Source: PWC Japan — Japan Tax Update: Overview of 2026 Tax Reform Proposals (December 2025) · as of 2025-12-19 |
| South Korea | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Korea, Republic of (Corporate, Income determination — Income from virtual assets) · as of 2026-06-04 |
| Difference | +55 pp | Japan higher |
Japan has a crypto tax rate of 55%, 55pp above South Korea's 0%. The 88-country average is 13%: Japan sits above it, South Korea sits below it. Japan's figure is dated 2025-12-19 and South Korea's 2026-06-04, so the two rates come from different data vintages.
Wealth Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Japan (Individual, Other taxes) · as of 2026-01-13 |
| 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 |
Japan and South Korea share the same wealth tax rate: 0%. The 193-country average is 0.1%: both sit below it.