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United Kingdom vs South Korea
Tax Rate Comparison

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

🇬🇧 United Kingdom
vs
🇰🇷 South Korea
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
0–45%
Thresholds remain frozen; fiscal drag continuing
No change
6–45%
Stable; political debate on top rate reduction
No change

VAT / GST / Sales Tax

VAT / GST / Sales Tax
0–20%
Standard 20% maintained
No change
10%
Standard 10% maintained
No change

Corporate Tax Rate

Corporate Tax Rate
19–25%
25% main rate; possible future reform discussions
No change
9–24%
Competitiveness discussions vs global peers
No change

Capital Gains Tax

Capital Gains Tax
18–24%
Post-Oct 2024 rates in full effect
No change
0–45%
Financial income taxation reform continuing
No change

Social Security & Payroll

Social Security / Payroll
~28.3%
15% employer NI; lower secondary threshold remains
No change
~18.5%
Contribution rates stable; pension reform discussion
No change
State, Regional & Local Taxes

🇬🇧 United KingdomDevolved, Council & Business Rates

Scotland sets its own income tax bands (six bands; top rate 48%). Wales has limited income tax-varying powers. Northern Ireland follows UK rates. All residents pay Council Tax to local authorities (typically £1,200–£4,000+/year). Business rates are set nationally but collected locally. SDLT applies to property purchases (LBTT in Scotland, LTT in Wales).

🇰🇷 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.

⚠️ 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.

United Kingdom vs South Korea: Key Tax Differences (2026)

💰 Income Tax: United Kingdom and South Korea have similar top income tax rates (0–45% vs 6–45%).

🛒 VAT/Sales Tax: United Kingdom has a higher consumption tax (0–20% vs 10%).

🏢 Corporate Tax: 🇰🇷 South Korea offers a lower corporate rate (24% vs 25%), which can influence business location decisions.

📈 Capital Gains: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom taxes investment gains at a lower rate (24% vs 45%), benefiting investors.

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