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Tax guidelines and regulations for large money transfers into South Korea

You and your recipient may need to report large transfers.

Transferring money into and out of South Korea can be done in several ways. The South Korean won is a controlled currency, and South Korean tax laws are thorough. That means you may face limits on how much you can send and what your recipient may owe for taxes on the transferred amount.

How South Korea regulates large remittances

South Korea has extensive tax regulations that cover incomes of all types, including gifts. According to our research, South Korean gift tax laws work similarly to the country’s inheritance tax laws.

Your recipient may have to report the amount gifted and file it along with instructions on the deductions. Because tax law is so involved, your recipient should likely talk to a tax professional about what exactly they might owe, which forms to use and when to file.

What are the penalties in South Korea if my recipient fails to file?

Penalties vary based on the severity of the infraction, among other factors. A percentage of the amount that’s overdue may be one resulting penalty. It’s a rate that could build over time, too.

Your recipient can seek out advice from a tax professional to help avoid running into any penalties in the first place.

Do I have to report large remittances out of the US?

In short, yes. Transfer services may report amounts as small as $1,000 to the IRS, so it’s likely that a large sum will be flagged. Any amount over $10,000 will likely need to be reported, but the exact threshold depends on the purpose of your transfer and how big it is.

Which forms you file will depend on your situation, and a tax professional can help you sort out which one you need and when you need to file it.

How much money can I send to South Korea?

Because the South Korean won is a regulated currency, you may run into some limits or additional filing requirements when attempting to transfer money into or out of the country. On top of limits as a result of currency controls, banks and transfer services may have limits of their own.

You’ll have to find a provider without maximums like Xe if you want to avoid running into additional caps on the amount you can send.

How can my recipient in South Korea get the money?

Your recipient can receive money in several different ways, including a direct deposit into their bank account and cash pickup. The method used to send and receive the funds will impact how long they take to arrive and how much the transfer will cost.

South Korea has several cash pickup locations in Seoul, Busan and Incheon, but it may not be the best option if your recipient lives in a smaller town. To get a full look at how to send money to South Korea, check out our comprehensive guide.

Bottom line

Transferring large sums of money to South Korea could have tax implications for both you as the sender, and your recipient. The type of tax applied and forms you need to fill out will depend on a number of factors. Before making a transfer of $10,000 or more, you and your recipient may want to talk with your respective tax professionals to get the full scope of what needs to be reported and how.

For a better look at transferring money across borders, take a look at our guide and compare services.

Frequently asked questions

Whether products shown are available to you is subject to individual provider sole approval and discretion in accordance with the eligibility criteria and T&Cs on the provider website.

Product USFMT Filter Values Fastest Transfer Speed Fees (Pay by Bank Transfer)
24 hours
$0
Business customers: Send safe, no-limit transfers with no fees and competitive exchange rates.
Within minutes
From $0
Xe has fast transfers with low fees and a range of foreign currency tools.
Within minutes
From $0
MoneyGram has fast cash pick-up transfers to more than 350,000 agent locations worldwide.
24 hours
From 0%
New Instarem customers will get a special FX rate and zero-fees on their first transfer.
Instarem offers offers rewards on every transaction.
24 hours
$0
Save your time and money with Xe Money Transfer for business.
Within minutes
From $0
Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.
24 hours
$0
CurrencyTransfer lets you shop around for the best exchange rate on its online marketplace.
Within minutes
From $0.99
Use promo code 3FREE and pay no fees on your first 3 transfers. Conditions apply.
WorldRemit sends money to 110+ countries for bank-to-bank deposits, cash pick-ups or mobile top-ups.
24 hours
$0
OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 45+ currencies.
Within minutes
$0
Provides business solutions for small business owners in over 24 currencies worldwide. Try 3 months free of Spotify Premium when you sign up with PayPal.
Within minutes
From $8.16
Enjoy high maximum transfers into more than 40 currencies, while saving up to 90% over local banks.
Within minutes
From 0.41%
Wise uses the mid-market rate and transparent fees to help you send money in 50+ currencies.
Within minutes
From 0.41%
Wise uses the mid-market rate and transparent fees to help you send money in 50+ currencies.
24 hours
$0
Increase business efficiency with zero transaction fees and same-day transfers.
Within minutes
From $0.99
Use promo code 3FREE and pay no fees on your first 3 transfers. Conditions apply.
WorldRemit sends money to 110+ countries for bank-to-bank deposits, cash pick-ups or mobile top-ups.
24 hours
€3
CurrencyFair has bank-beating exchange rates and fast transfer times on 15+ popular currencies.
24 hours
$0
OFX has no maximum limit transfers, with competitive exchange rates for 45+ currencies.
24 hours
€3
CurrencyFair has bank-beating exchange rates and fast transfer times on 15+ popular currencies.
Within minutes
From $0
Special offers like free transfers and better exchange rates available for new customers.
Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.
Within minutes
From $0
Special offers like free transfers and better exchange rates available for new customers.
Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.
Within minutes
From $0
Special offers like free transfers and better exchange rates available for new customers.
Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.
Within minutes
From $0
Use PayPal to safely send money and receive payments from around the world in over 25 currencies with just an email address or mobile number. Try 3 months free of Spotify Premium when you sign up with PayPal.
Within minutes
$3
Xe has fast transfers with low fees and a range of foreign currency tools.
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Editor

Rhys Subitch is a personal finance editor at Bankrate and former loans editor at Finder, specializing in consumer and business lending. Rhys has nearly a decade of experience researching, editing, and writing for startups, Fortune 500 companies, universities and websites. They hold a BA in sociology and a certificate of editing from the University of Washington. See full bio

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Rhys has written 38 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Personal, business, student and car loans
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