Current Status
Jan 15, Hometax Opens: The Waiting Game for 20M Employees
Refund vs Payment (Est.)
The average payment for those who pay more (19%) is larger than for those who get refunds (68%). Check in advance so your '13th month salary' doesn't become a '13th month bomb'.
Customer Voice (Reactions)
"Glad I got married! 1M deduction is huge."
Positive"Sad to be single. Gotta grab that rent deduction."
Anxious"Already shaking thinking about last year's bill."
Negative"This year, 'how family structure changed' is the key variable determining your refund, rather than 'how much you spent'."
Analysis
2026 Triple Shock: 1M for Marriage, +α for Kids
New Deduction Logic
A new tax credit of up to 1M KRW for couples registering marriage in 2024-2026. Child tax credit also hiked to 250k KRW for the first child (was 150k). 'Family' now equals 'Tax Savings'.
Old vs New
Marriage Tax CreditIMP
Child Tax Credit (1st)
Rent Tax CreditIMP
New/Expanded Items
- Gym/Pool Fees (Income Deduction)
- Postpartum Care Center 2M (Income Limit Removed)
"Miss it and it's gone. Receipts for 'Glasses, Uniforms, Rent, Donations' not on Hometax must be submitted to your company separately."
Forecast
Blind Money: Don't Spend It, Roll the 'Snowball'
Refund Usage Scenarios
Spending refund immediately. 0 asset formation effect.
Repay high-interest loans first. Save interest costs.
Deposit to ISA/Pension. Secure next year's limit & compound interest.
Action Plan
Hometax Simplified Service Opens
Check data & start PDF download. Verify missing items.
Submit Documents & Company Processing
Submit missing receipts (Glasses, Rent, etc.). Follow company deadline.
Reinvest Refund (ISA/Pension)
Transfer refund immediately to tax-saving account to maximize compound interest.
Vividat Verdict
"'Not paying back' is the best investment. Log in to Hometax today, check estimated tax, and verify your checklist for missing docs."