KR · AsiaGB · Europe
South Korea vs United Kingdom: tax rates compared
South Korea has an income tax rate of 49.5%, 4.5pp above United Kingdom's 45%. 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 | KR | GB | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income Tax | 49.5% | 45% | KR +4.5 pp |
| Corporate Tax | 26.4% | 25% | KR +1.4 pp |
| VAT | 10% | 20% | GB +10 pp |
| Capital Gains Tax | 0% | 24% | GB +24 pplargest gap |
| Crypto Tax | 0% | 24% | GB +24 pp |
| Wealth Tax | 0% | 0% | match |
Income Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea | 49.5% | Source: OECD Tax Database — Top statutory personal income tax rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| United Kingdom | 45% | Source: OECD Tax Database — Top statutory personal income tax rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| Difference | +4.5 pp | South Korea higher |
Corporate Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea | 26.4% | Source: Tax Foundation — Worldwide Corporate Tax Rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| United Kingdom | 25% | Source: Tax Foundation — Worldwide Corporate Tax Rates · as of 2025-01-01 |
| Difference | +1.4 pp | South Korea higher |
South Korea has a corporate tax rate of 26.4%, 1.4pp above United Kingdom's 25%. The 201-country average is 22.6%: both sit above it.
VAT
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea | 10% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Korea, Republic of (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2026-06-04 |
| United Kingdom | 20% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — United Kingdom (Corporate, Other taxes) · as of 2025-12-24 |
| Difference | −10 pp | United Kingdom higher |
United Kingdom has a VAT rate of 20%, 10pp above South Korea's 10%. The 181-country average is 15%: South Korea sits below it, United Kingdom sits above it. South Korea's figure is dated 2026-06-04 and United Kingdom's 2025-12-24, so the two rates come from different data vintages.
Capital Gains Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Korea, Republic of (Individual, Income determination) · as of 2026-07-02 |
| United Kingdom | 24% | Source: GOV.UK (HMRC) — Capital Gains Tax: rates · as of 2024-10-30 |
| Difference | −24 pp | United Kingdom higher |
United Kingdom has a capital gains tax rate of 24%, 24pp above South Korea's 0%. The 175-country average is 10.3%: South Korea sits below it, United Kingdom sits above it. South Korea's figure is dated 2026-07-02 and United Kingdom's 2024-10-30, so the two rates come from different data vintages.
Crypto Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Korea, Republic of (Corporate, Income determination — Income from virtual assets) · as of 2026-06-04 |
| United Kingdom | 24% | Source: GOV.UK (HMRC) — Check if you need to pay tax when you sell cryptoassets · as of 2025-05-29 |
| Difference | −24 pp | United Kingdom higher |
United Kingdom has a crypto tax rate of 24%, 24pp above South Korea's 0%. The 88-country average is 13%: South Korea sits below it, United Kingdom sits above it. South Korea's figure is dated 2026-06-04 and United Kingdom's 2025-05-29, so the two rates come from different data vintages.
Wealth Tax
| Country | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Korea, Republic of (Individual, Other taxes) · as of 2026-07-02 |
| United Kingdom | 0% | Source: PWC Worldwide Tax Summaries — United Kingdom (Individual, Other taxes) · as of 2025-12-24 |
| Difference | 0 pp | displayed rates match |
South Korea and United Kingdom share the same wealth tax rate: 0%. The 193-country average is 0.1%: both sit below it. South Korea's figure is dated 2026-07-02 and United Kingdom's 2025-12-24, so the two rates come from different data vintages.