EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TAX REFUNDS IN KOREA!🇰🇷🛍️ 💸 Tax refund process + US customs/duties 

Thank you for watching!!

Yes! All price tags in Korea include tax! If the price tag states 3,000,000, that is the price you’ll pay when you check out 😊

@@Somidoshop how do i declare my goods when i arrive in the US? Is there a form i need to fill out in the plane? Or will the security be asking me if i bought anything worth more than $800?

I have global entry but regardless I don’t think there’s an official form anymore (I may be incorrect). At the customs desk before re-entering the US the officer will ask you if you have anything you need to declare, and at that point you should say yes if you’ve bought more than $800 worth of goods!

Yes! If you’ve received the refund at the time of purchase you do not need to scan the receipt at the airport :)

I believe on average you can get 7-8% back in tax refund! Most places you cannot get an immediate tax refund, so definitely be prepared to show your items at the airport! If you are able to immediately get a tax refund (this would not be the case for a dior bag), then you wouldn’t need to show the item again at the airport. Hope this helps!

If you buy in a Korean department store you just need to make sure to get the tax refund receipt! And then you can receive your refund at the airport 😊

Not very long! Once you’re at the airport the process is fairly quick, and I haven’t personally experienced very long lines (usually there are people but I haven’t waited more than 15 minutes to use a kiosk). If you don’t need to show anything to an attendant, I think you can be done in 20 minutes, and if you do need to show things, then probably the process will take 30-40minutes! These numbers assume that you will be waiting on other people in front of you, but I’ve also completed this process in less than 10 minutes before too. Always best to budget extra time though!

I think they’re fairly similar, but definitely if the conversion is heavily usd favor, it may be cheaper to buy in a regular boutique and receive a tax refund!

If the goods are in your checked luggage unfortunately it’s too late and you will not be able to get a refund for items you can’t show 😢 no way to get your checked bag back to show the items so make sure to visit the tax refund desk BEFORE you check any bags!!

Hi! Before you drop off any of your checked bags, you need to bring everything over to the tax-free area in case they want to see any items! Once you have gotten all your refunds, then you take your bags to the bag check counter for drop off. Your large liquids will remain in your checked bag!

Yes! Pretty much anything you buy in a department store is eligible for a tax refund :)

If you get an immediate tax refund you don’t need to worry about scanning a receipt or showing the items at the airport! If the items are particularly expensive and total more then your tax free allowance, then the only time they need to be mentioned is when you’re re-entering the US at customs, letting the agent know that you’re being back $___ amount worth of goods.

I’m glad you took something away from my video! Thank you for watching 🥰

@@Somidoshop I was trying to find a list of what I can get a refund for but to no success. Do you know where I can access that info? Would services rendered, KTA? Etc??

To my knowledge there’s no exact ‘list’ of items that are eligible for a tax refund! It is just specified that it is a physical good that is priced between 30,000won - 5,000,000won and it was bought within 3 months of your departure date. Most goods are eligible for refund as long as the store participates in being able to process you a tax refund receipt! There are, however, certain goods that are deemed ineligible for a tax refund-they include drugs, tobacco, goods designated as heritage assets, firearms, raw food products, and services (ie you got a massage; that’s not a physical good you can receive a tax refund on). It can be hard to know for certain whether an item will be eligible for a tax refund before shopping, but you can just ask the store worker at the time of purchase to check!

@@Somidoshopgood to know. I have that noted for my November trip with intention to buy lots of skin care, accessories, and stationary goods! 🙌🏻

Definitely recommend going to myeongdong for that!! Can get an immediate tax refund which saves a lot of extra hassle at the airport 🥰 Hope you have a wonderful trip!

Immediate tax refund is only done at eligible stores at the time of purchase! If you’re talking about just receiving a regular tax refund, then yes, all goods need to be accessible to be checked at the airport (thought usually it’s just expensive items that are checked, not all items). If they ask to see an item at the airport and you can’t show it for some reason, you will not receive a tax refund.

I think on average I get like 8ish% back! It depends on what the purchase is and cost