2025 Earned Income Tax Credit: How to Apply Late

You can still apply for the earned income tax credit if you missed the regular application period for 2025 income. If you meet the income and asset requirements, apply by December 1, 2026. Prepare proof of income and a bank account in your name, then apply through Hometax. Late applications are subject to a 5% reduction.

The figures in this article are based on the National Tax Service’s April 30, 2026 announcement and its guidance for 2025 income.

How to apply late through Hometax

You can apply directly through Hometax even if you did not receive a notice. First, check your application history for 2025 income. If a half-year application or automatic application has already been processed, check its result before applying.

1. Log in to Hometax and check your application history for 2025 income. If you agreed to automatic application, check whether an application was actually submitted.
2. Check your household composition and the income and asset requirements. Compare the table below with the information shown on the application screen.
3. Prepare a means of verifying your identity, your contact details, and a refund account in your name. If you need to verify your income, prepare an income certificate from your employer or similar documentation.
4. Select the regular application menu under “Incentives, Year-End Tax Settlement, and Electronic Donations.” If you did not receive a notice, use “Apply by Entering Information Directly.”
5. Check your income and asset information and your account details, then submit the application. Check the submission result afterward.

If you received a notice, you can apply using your individual authentication number. The ARS application number is 1544-9944. Hometax’s application service is available from 06:00 to 24:00.

The National Tax Service’s “Application Period and Methods” gives the following application period:

The late application period is ’26.6.2.~12.1.

You can check the menus and authentication methods on the National Tax Service’s Application Period and Methods page.

Earned income tax credit income requirements and household types

Residents who had employment, business, or religious income in 2025 are eligible to apply. The program supports working households with low incomes. Income limits and maximum payments vary by household type.

Not every applicant receives the maximum payment. The amount calculated varies according to spouses’ combined “total pay, etc.” You can check the limits for each household type on the National Tax Service’s earned income tax credit overview page.

Determining your household type

Determine your household composition as of December 31, 2025.

• Single household: A household with no spouse, dependent children, or direct ascendants aged at least 70.
• Single-earner household: A household where the spouse’s total pay, etc. is less than 3 million won a year. This also includes a household without a spouse that has a dependent child or direct ascendant who meets the requirements.
• Dual-earner household: You and your spouse each have total pay, etc. of at least 3 million won a year.

Dependent children must generally be under 18. Each dependent child and qualifying direct ascendant must have annual income of at most 1 million won. For direct ascendants, also check the cohabitation and livelihood requirements.

What counts as income

The income requirement is not determined solely by your take-home monthly pay. Total income includes employment, business, and religious income. Interest, dividends, pensions, and other income are also added.

Business income is calculated by multiplying gross receipts by the adjustment rate for the type of business. Tax-exempt income, retirement income, and capital gains are excluded from total income. Total income used to determine eligibility differs from total pay, etc. used to calculate the payment.

Asset requirements and exclusions

Household members’ combined assets as of June 1, 2025 must be less than 240 million won. In addition to homes, land, and deposits, assets include lease deposits and stocks. Debts, including loans, are not deducted from assets.

For an ordinary rented home, the actual lease deposit is compared with the deemed lease deposit. The deemed lease deposit is 55% of the standard market value. The smaller amount applies. Separate valuation rules apply to homes rented from direct ascendants or descendants.

Even if you meet the income and asset requirements, check the following exclusions:

• You or your spouse operates a professional practice.
• You were another resident’s dependent child in 2025.
• You did not have South Korean nationality at the end of 2025. An exception applies if you have a spouse or dependent child with Korean nationality.
• You or your spouse was a regular employee still working at the end of 2025. You are excluded if average monthly employment income was at least 5 million won; daily workers are an exception.

Check the details on the National Tax Service’s eligibility page.

Comparing 2025 income applications with 2026 half-year applications

The late application you can submit now is for 2025 income. Its income year differs from that of a half-year application for 2026 income. Check both the year and application type on the application screen.

If you have only employment income, you can choose a regular or half-year application. If you have business or religious income, you must use the regular application. A 2026 half-year application cannot replace an application for 2025 income.

If you completed a half-year application in September 2025 or March 2026, you do not need to apply again. In that case, you have already applied for 2025 income. This is explained in the National Tax Service’s April 30, 2026 press reference material.

Comparing reduction conditions

Late applications are subject to a 5% reduction. The asset-based reduction is a separate condition. If you are subject to the asset-based reduction, the late-application reduction also applies.

Assets are assessed as of June 1, 2025. Applying a refund to outstanding taxes means using money that would otherwise be paid to you to settle unpaid taxes. The final deposit may therefore differ from an amount calculated using reductions alone.

Calculation examples

Applying the reduction rates to the maximum calculated amount for a single household shows the difference. The calculations below assume an amount of 1.65 million won before reductions. They exclude other adjustments, such as applying the payment to outstanding taxes.

The two reduction rates are not simply added together to subtract 55%. The late-application payment rate is applied to the amount after the asset-based reduction. Check the amount determined during the review for your actual payment.

Checking proof of income and your refund account

Check separately whether your application has been submitted and whether payment can be deposited into your account. If the income shown on the application screen differs from your actual income, prepare supporting documents. The National Tax Service lists documents such as an income certificate issued by your employer.

Credit payments cannot be deposited into a Happiness Keeper account in some cases. Sontax instructs applicants in this situation to apply using another account. You can check the account guidance on the Sontax application screen.

Payment timing and checking your review after applying

The payment deadline for a late application is within 4 months of the application date. Payment is not deposited on the day you apply. The amount you applied for may change, or no payment may be made, depending on the review result.

1. Log in to Hometax.
2. Select “Earned Income Tax Credit Regular/Half-Year Application” from the incentives menu.
3. Check the processing status under “Check Review Progress.”
4. If additional documents are requested, submit them as instructed.

The payment deadline and reduction rules are explained on the National Tax Service’s Review and Payment page.