South Korea Crypto Tax News: Why Are New Guidelines Coming? South Korea crypto tax news centers on a parliamentary answer, and on October 13, 2026, the National Tax Service said it is prepari
South Korea crypto tax news centers on a parliamentary answer, and on October 13, 2026, the National Tax Service said it is preparing a notice with tax guidelines around November.
The tax is set to start on January 1, 2027; now Korea is already testing how crypto fits into finance, fromJeonbuk Bank bitcoin loans to tighter oversight of overseas platforms.
At a glance, the South Korea cryptocurrency market updates as of October 14, 2026:
The tax service plans its guidelines notice around November.
The tax is scheduled to start on January 1, 2027.
A delay petition is under committee review, but review alone does not delay the tax. 
Source: SBS News reports, October 13, 2026
Commissioner Lim Kwang-hyun spoke at a parliamentary audit. A lawmaker asked when the notice on virtual asset tax would come.
He said the agency is preparing so it can be done around November. He also said the agency is preparing to start the tax without disruption.
An earlier pledge said guidelines would come before year-end, so November fits that window. The notice is expected on theNational Tax Service website.
The South Korea crypto tax news repeats the plan: a combined 22% rate on qualifying gains, consisting of 20% national tax and 2% local tax, and income above a 2.5 million won yearly deduction would be taxed.
Gains made in 2027 would be reported in May 2028. While coins are held before January 1, 2027, thecost basis is generally the higher of the documented purchase price or the market value on December 31, 2026.
Item
Detail
Start date
January 1, 2027
Combined rate
22% (20% national, 2% local)
Yearly deduction
2.5 million won
First filing
May 2028
Guidelines notice
Around November 2026
The commissioner said that if a deal has the nature of a transfer or a loan, it should be treated as taxable. While reports say the tax service looks at the real substance of a deal, not its form.
Crypto airdrops and hard forks may be taxable if they work like a transfer or loan. Staking still needs talks with the Ministry of Economy and Finance, so the South Korea crypto tax news may bring the first clear answers for staking and DeFi users.
In South Korea, crypto news today: a petition seeking a two-year delay passed 50,000 signatures in September that sent it to a parliamentary committee for review and asks to move the start to 2029.
The review does not stop the January 2027 date by itself, and lawmakers would need to approve a change in the law. The tax has already slipped three times, from 2022 to 2023, then 2025, and then 2027. Officials have kept the 2027 schedule so far.
The South Korea crypto tax news also shows gaps on the exchange side, along with critics saying tax systems at the five biggest exchanges are not ready. Simultaneously, the commissioner replied that the agency keeps talking with them at the working level.
The exchange group DAXA has told lawmakers that the industry still lacks a standard data link with regulators; even with the OECD,person-to-person wallet deals would be hard to track.
The same day, the Financial Intelligence Unit moved to block 27 unregistered overseas exchange websites together.
The South Korea's new crypto exchange announcements today are at a decision point in the November notice; the committee’s next step and exchange readiness are the items that matter next.
The main uncertainty is the gray areas alongside spot trades are clear, but staking, airdrops, and DeFi are not; if the notice answers many questions, officials can say the system is ready. Furthermore, if it leaves gaps, supporters of a delay may cite them.
The latest cryptocurrency news today is about timing, not final rules. The tax is still set for January 1, 2027, and the guidelines are expected around November. A delay would need a change in law.
Disclaimer: This article is for information only and is not investment, tax, legal, or financial advice. Crypto rules and tax treatment can change. Do your own research and speak with a qualified tax adviser before you act.
