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South Korea vs Kuwait
Tax Rate Comparison

Enter your income below for a personal tax estimate, then scroll down for full rate breakdowns.

🇰🇷 South Korea
vs
🇰🇼 Kuwait
Tax Year:

💰 Personal Income Tax Calculator

Enter your income to see your estimated annual tax liability in each country — side by side.

Enter your annual income above to see your personal tax comparison →

Individual Income Tax (Top Marginal Rate)

Top Income Tax Rate
6–45%
Stable; political debate on top rate reduction
No change
0%
No personal income tax
No change

VAT / GST / Sales Tax

VAT / GST / Sales Tax
10%
Standard 10% maintained
No change
5%
VAT introduction at 5% expected 2025–2026
+5.0pp vs 2025

Corporate Tax Rate

Corporate Tax Rate
9–24%
Competitiveness discussions vs global peers
No change
15%
15% foreign; domestic minimum tax for Pillar Two
No change

Capital Gains Tax

Capital Gains Tax
0–45%
Financial income taxation reform continuing
No change
0%
No CGT
No change

Social Security & Payroll

Social Security / Payroll
~18.5%
Contribution rates stable; pension reform discussion
No change
~16%
PIFSS stable; expat levy discussions ongoing
No change
State, Regional & Local Taxes

🇰🇷 South KoreaLocal Income Tax & Resident Tax

South Korea's 17 metropolitan/provincial governments levy local income tax at 10% of national income tax. Property holding tax (Jongbu-se) is a national progressive tax on higher-value properties. Local education taxes and acquisition taxes apply to property transfers. Seoul has higher effective rates due to property values.

🇰🇼 KuwaitNo Sub-National Tax Variation

Kuwait is a city-state with no local or regional income taxes. All taxation is national. Kuwait has no income tax on individuals (citizens or expatriates). Foreign companies operating in Kuwait pay corporate income tax at 15%. National Labour Support Tax (NLST) at 2.5% applies to Kuwaiti listed company profits. Zakat at 1% applies to Kuwaiti company profits. The Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) manages the state's sovereign wealth fund, which generates significant non-tax revenue reducing fiscal dependency.

⚠️ Disclaimer: Rates shown are standard top/headline rates for informational purposes. Actual tax liability depends on income level, residency, deductions, and tax treaties. 2025–2026 data reflects announced or enacted rates and may be subject to change. Not financial or legal advice.

South Korea vs Kuwait: Key Tax Differences (2026)

💰 Income Tax: 🇰🇷 South Korea has a higher top income tax rate (6–45% vs 0%). 🇰🇼 Kuwait is more favourable for high earners.

🛒 VAT/Sales Tax: South Korea has a higher consumption tax (10% vs 5%).

🏢 Corporate Tax: 🇰🇼 Kuwait offers a lower corporate rate (15% vs 24%), which can influence business location decisions.

📈 Capital Gains: 🇰🇼 Kuwait taxes investment gains at a lower rate (0% vs 45%), benefiting investors.

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