Korean Customs Calculator Korea Customs Tariff Act · Apr 2026
Korean customs on overseas orders (Amazon, iHerb, AliExpress)? Enter value and country — get the duty + VAT estimate. Personal-use only.
How Korean customs work
- De minimis check: US origin under $200, other under $150 — both duty & VAT exempt for personal use.
- Above threshold: tax applies to the entire CIF value, not just the excess. e.g. $201 from US → tax on $201, not $1.
- Customs duty = CIF value × HS-category rate (typically 8-13%).
- VAT (10%) = (CIF + duty) × 10%.
- Total tax = duty + VAT. Approximate effective rate ~18-20% of CIF.
FTA (Free Trade Agreement) reduced rates
If your item qualifies for FTA preferences (US, EU, Vietnam, China, ASEAN, Australia, etc.), the duty rate may be reduced or zero. Requires the seller/manufacturer to provide a Certificate of Origin. Apparel from US/EU/Vietnam often qualifies. Most online purchases don't bother with FTA paperwork — full rate applies.
⚠ Estimates only. Real customs may apply a different HS code, exchange rate, or detect undeclared FTA. For actual orders, check Korea Customs Service unipass.customs.go.kr.
📌 Official Sources · References
- Korea Customs Service (KCS) · The official authority for Korean import duty, VAT, de minimis thresholds, and personal-use vs commercial classification
- Unipass (KCS Customs Information Portal) · Real-time tariff lookup, HS code search, and personal customs clearance status (☎ 125)
- Korea National Law Information Center — Customs Act · Legal basis for tariff calculation, VAT (10%), and special excise tax on imports
- Korea FTA Portal (MOFA) · Free Trade Agreement preferential tariff rates by origin country (US KORUS FTA, EU FTA, etc.) — affects de minimis ($200 US vs $150 elsewhere)
This calculator estimates Korean import duty + 10% VAT on personal-use overseas online orders. Commercial imports, restricted items (food, supplements, drugs, electronics for resale), and country-of-origin determinations may be assessed differently. For specific cases, verify with Unipass (unipass.customs.go.kr) or call the KCS hotline (☎ 125). Personal customs clearance code (개인통관고유부호) is required for shipments over USD $150 — apply at unipass.customs.go.kr.
FAQ
What's Korea's de minimis (duty-free threshold)?
Personal-use imports are duty-free up to $200 USD from the United States (under KORUS FTA), or $150 USD-equivalent from any other country. Per shipment, not per month. If a single package exceeds the threshold, the entire value is taxed (not just the excess).
How is VAT calculated on imports?
10% applied to (CIF value + customs duty). For most personal goods, total tax ends up around 18-22% of CIF. Books, magazines, and some printed materials are VAT-exempt. Total tax = duty (typically 8% on goods) + VAT (10% on duty-inclusive base).
Why did my package get held at customs?
Common reasons: (1) declared value exceeds $200/$150, (2) restricted item (food, supplements, medicine, cosmetics requiring KFDA approval), (3) missing personal customs clearance code (개인통관고유부호) — required for online purchases, get it free at unipass.customs.go.kr, (4) suspected commercial use (multiple identical items).
Is the limit per package or per month?
Per shipment. You can receive multiple sub-$200 packages in the same month — each is independently assessed. However, customs may flag patterns suggesting commercial intent (same supplier, same item types repeatedly). For genuine personal use, occasional $200 packages are fine.
Do I need to pay duty on gifts from family abroad?
Gifts have no special tax exemption in Korea — they're treated like any import. The $200/$150 de minimis still applies. If you receive a gift exceeding the threshold, declare it on the customs form and pay the full duty + VAT. Mark 'Gift / 선물' in the description; this doesn't change the tax but helps customs process it as personal use.
How do I declare personal use?
Most online purchases under $200 use 목록통관 (list clearance) — automatic, no action needed. For values requiring formal declaration, log in to unipass.customs.go.kr, choose 'Personal use 자가사용', upload invoice + tracking, and pay the calculated duty/VAT. Korean residents need a personal customs clearance code (free, one-time setup).
Is this calculator official?
No — this is an estimate only based on standard rates. Final assessment is done by Korean Customs Service. For commercial imports or large amounts, consult a customs broker (관세사). Always verify on unipass.customs.go.kr before relying on these numbers.