Korea seeks another crypto tax delay over gaps in overseas data and rules

The government will seek to postpone cryptocurrency income taxation until 2029, Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il said Thursday, citing the need for overseas transaction data and clearer rules. The proposal would be a fourth delay if approved by the National Assembly, after the tax was postponed from its original 2022 start date to 2023, 2025 and 2027. Supporters say more preparation is needed for fair and accurate taxation, while critics say repeated delays weaken policy credibility and may reflect political considerations. A public-private working group is to develop reform proposals by the first half of 2027.

Under the legislation awaiting implementation, annual net profits above a 2.5 million won allowance would be taxed at 22 percent, including local income tax.

The government said starting the tax before cryptocurrency transaction information exchanges with the United States begin in 2029 could disadvantage the domestic market.

The government plans to seek a three-year loss carryforward for investors during the additional preparation period.

A public-private working group is to develop reform proposals by the first half of 2027, with legislative amendments planned for that year’s regular Assembly session.

A Tiger Research survey conducted with Chainalysis found that 73.7 percent of 2,423 Korean cryptocurrency investors opposed implementation under the current rules.

Published Nov 5, 2026 4:15 pm KST

Updated Nov 5, 2026 5:33 pm KST

Fourth postponement reignites debate over tax fairness, political motives

Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il speaks at a briefing on cryptocurrency taxation at Government Complex Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Ministry of Finance and Economy

The government will seek to postpone cryptocurrency income taxation by another two years to 2029, Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il said Thursday, renewing debate over tax fairness and policy credibility after three previous postponements.

Lee said more time is needed to secure overseas transaction data and refine the rules. But the reversal, just a month after the government reiterated its commitment to proceeding in January, has drawn criticism over policy predictability and possible political motivations.

At a briefing, Lee said the government would work with the National Assembly to pursue the delay. The announcement came a day after ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Kim Min-seok formally requested another postponement.

Under the legislation awaiting implementation, income from transferring or lending digital assets would be classified as miscellaneous income. Annual net profits above a 2.5 million won ($1,900) allowance would be taxed at 22 percent, including local income tax. Net profits would be calculated by deducting acquisition costs and related expenses from proceeds.

The government said introducing the tax before exchanges of cryptocurrency transaction information with the United States begin in 2029 could put the domestic market at a disadvantage. It also cited expected changes to asset definitions and rules governing service providers under the envisioned Digital Asset Basic Act, which would establish a broader regulatory framework for the crypto market.

“The adjustment maintains the fundamental principle that income should be taxed, while improving the effectiveness of taxation on domestic and overseas transactions, ensuring fairness among taxpayers and establishing a reliable and stable tax framework,” Lee said.

During the additional preparation period, the government will seek to allow investors to carry losses forward for three years, reflecting cryptocurrency’s volatility, Lee said. It also plans to strengthen overseas data collection and analysis and accelerate digital asset legislation to support industry growth and protect users.

A public-private working group will develop reform proposals by the first half of 2027. Legislative amendments would be submitted during the Assembly’s regular session that year, followed by detailed tax guidelines in the first half of 2028.

First announced in July 2020 and enacted into law that December, the tax was originally scheduled to take effect in 2022. Implementation was subsequently pushed back to 2023, 2025 and 2027. The latest proposal would constitute a fourth postponement if approved by lawmakers.

The government maintained until mid-October that the tax would proceed as scheduled, but signs of a shift emerged later that month.

First Vice Finance Minister Kwon Dae-young held a closed-door meeting with representatives of the country’s five major cryptocurrency exchanges on Oct. 20 to assess their readiness and hear industry concerns. The meeting fueled speculation that the government could soften its stance. The DPK also met exchange representatives on Oct. 30 to hear their requests for a postponement and other industry views.

Industry welcomes delay, opposition cries populism

First Vice Finance Minister Kwon Dae-young presides over a meeting on cryptocurrency taxation with representatives of the country’s five major cryptocurrency exchanges at the Seoul Regional Public Procurement Service in Seocho District, Seoul, Oct. 20. Courtesy of Ministry of Finance and Economy

Industry participants welcomed the proposed delay, arguing that accurate profit calculations and equal treatment of domestic and overseas transactions must come first.

One major obstacle, according to the industry, is verifying acquisition costs for assets transferred through overseas exchanges or personal wallets. Without reliable purchase records, investors could face inconsistent tax burdens. Rules covering newer products and transactions, along with filing and IT systems, also require further work.

Coin exchanges have also warned that difficulty obtaining overseas records could encourage investors to move assets abroad or into personal wallets.

Investor opposition has added pressure. Parliamentary petitions seeking abolition of the tax and a further two-year delay each secured more than 50,000 supporters, qualifying them for Assembly consideration.

A Tiger Research survey conducted with Chainalysis found that 73.7 percent of 2,423 Korean cryptocurrency investors opposed implementation under the current rules. Among opponents, however, 51.5 percent said they would accept taxation if the shortcomings were adequately addressed.

“The cryptocurrency tax system is still not properly established, and a premature rollout could fuel complaints and resistance from users over fairness and other issues,” a cryptocurrency industry official said.

Critics, however, argue that repeated extensions weaken the principle that income should be taxed and undermine confidence in government deadlines. They also question whether another delay is fair to those paying tax on other investment income.

Political considerations have also come under scrutiny. Under the scheduled Jan. 1, 2027, start date, the first filings and payments would be due in May 2028, immediately after the general election planned for April.

That timing has fueled suggestions that the government and ruling party are seeking to avoid alienating younger cryptocurrency investors.

“This postponement is typical populist politics,” said Mun Jong-hyeong, a spokesman for the main opposition People Power Party, accusing the government and ruling party of prioritizing young voters’ sentiment and approval ratings without first establishing adequate market infrastructure or clear legal definitions.

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韩国财政部长李亨日周四表示，政府将寻求把加密货币所得税的征收推迟到2029年，理由是需要海外交易数据和更清晰的规则。如果这项提议获得国会批准，这将是该税种第四次延期。此前，该税种的征收日期已从最初的2022年推迟到2023年、2025年和2027年。支持者认为，需要更多准备工作才能实现公平准确的征税；而批评者则认为，一再推迟征收会削弱政策的公信力，并可能反映出政治考量。一个公私合作工作组将在2027年上半年之前制定改革方案。

根据即将实施的立法，超过 250 万韩元免税额的年度净利润将按 22% 的税率征税，其中包括地方所得税。

政府表示，在2029年与美国开始进行加密货币交易信息交换之前征收此税可能会对国内市场造成不利影响。

政府计划在额外的准备期内，为投资者争取三年的亏损结转。

一个公私合作工作组将在 2027 年上半年制定改革方案，并计划在当年的例行议会会议上进行立法修正。

Tiger Research 与 Chainalysis 联合进行的一项调查发现，在 2423 名韩国加密货币投资者中，73.7% 的人反对按照现行规则实施该政策。

发布于2026年11月5日下午4:15（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年11月5日下午5:33（韩国标准时间）

第四次延期再次引发关于税收公平和政治动机的辩论

韩国财政部长李亨日周四在首尔政府大楼就加密货币税收问题举行简报会。图片由韩国财政经济部提供。

财政部长李亨日周四表示，政府将寻求把加密货币收入征税的期限再推迟两年至2029年，此前该政策已三次推迟，此举再次引发了关于税收公平性和政策可信度的辩论。

李表示，还需要更多时间来获取海外交易数据并完善相关规则。但就在一个月前，政府还在1月份重申将继续推进该计划，而此次政策逆转引发了人们对政策可预测性和潜在政治动机的质疑。

李在简报会上表示，政府将与国会合作，争取延期。此前一天，执政党共同民主党委员长金珉锡正式提出再次延期申请。

根据待实施的法案，数字资产转让或借贷所得收入将被归类为其他收入。超过250万韩元（约合1900美元）免税额的年度净利润将按22%的税率征税，其中包括地方所得税。净利润的计算方法是从所得款项中扣除购置成本和相关费用。

政府表示，在2029年加密货币交易信息与美国开始交换之前引入这项税收，可能会使国内市场处于不利地位。政府还提到，根据设想中的《数字资产基础法案》，资产定义和服务提供商监管规则预计将会发生变化，该法案将为加密货币市场建立一个更广泛的监管框架。

李表示：“此次调整维持了收入征税的基本原则，同时提高了境内外交易的征税效率，确保了纳税人之间的公平，并建立了一个可靠稳定的税收框架。”

李表示，在额外的准备期内，政府将考虑允许投资者将损失结转三年，以反映加密货币的波动性。政府还计划加强海外数据收集和分析，加快数字资产立法进程，以支持行业发展并保护用户权益。

一个公私合作工作组将在 2027 年上半年制定改革方案。立法修正案将在当年议会例会期间提交，随后将在 2028 年上半年出台详细的税收指导方针。

该税项于2020年7月首次公布，并于同年12月正式立法，原定于2022年生效。此后，实施日期被推迟至2023年、2025年和2027年。如果获得立法者批准，最新的提案将是第四次延期。

政府一直坚持到 10 月中旬，表示该税收将按计划进行，但当月晚些时候出现了政策转变的迹象。

10月20日，韩国第一副财长权大荣与该国五大加密货币交易所的代表举行了闭门会议，评估他们的准备情况并听取业界的担忧。此次会议引发了外界对政府可能软化立场的猜测。10月30日，韩国国会也与交易所代表举行了会议，听取了他们关于延期的请求和其他业界意见。

业界欢迎延期，反对派则指责这是民粹主义。

10月20日，韩国第一副财政部长权大荣在首尔瑞草区首尔地方公共采购服务中心主持召开加密货币税收问题会议，与会代表为韩国五大加密货币交易所的代表。图片由韩国财政经济部提供。

业内人士对这一提议表示欢迎，认为必须首先考虑准确的利润计算以及对国内和海外交易的平等对待。

业内人士指出，一大障碍在于核实通过海外交易所或个人钱包转移资产的购置成本。如果没有可靠的购买记录，投资者可能面临不一致的税负。此外，针对新产品和交易的规则，以及申报和信息技术系统，也需要进一步完善。

加密货币交易所也警告称，难以获取海外记录可能会促使投资者将资产转移到国外或个人钱包中。

投资者的反对加剧了压力。要求取消该税项和将征收期限再推迟两年的议会请愿书均获得了超过5万名支持者，符合议会审议的条件。

Tiger Research与Chainalysis联合开展的一项调查显示，在2423名韩国加密货币投资者中，73.7%的人反对按照现行规则实施加密货币征税。然而，在这些反对者中，51.5%的人表示，如果相关缺陷得到充分解决，他们愿意接受征税。

一位加密货币行业官员表示：“加密货币税收制度尚未完全建立，过早推出可能会引发用户对公平性和其他问题的抱怨和抵制。”

然而，批评人士认为，一再延期会削弱收入征税的原则，并损害人们对政府最后期限的信心。他们还质疑，对那些就其他投资收入纳税的人来说，再次延期是否公平。

政治因素也受到了密切关注。按照2027年1月1日的预定启动日期，首批申报和缴款将于2028年5月到期，即在计划于4月举行的大选之后。

这一时机引发了人们的猜测，认为政府和执政党正试图避免疏远年轻的加密货币投资者。

“这种推迟是典型的民粹主义政治，”主要反对党国民力量党发言人文钟亨表示，他指责政府和执政党优先考虑年轻选民的情绪和支持率，却没有首先建立足够的市场基础设施或明确的法律定义。

执政党提议政府推迟对加密货币征税的计划。

韩国加密货币交易所高度戒备，币安遭遇63亿美元劫案。

由于支持率低迷，韩国政府态度谨慎，加密货币税面临第四次推迟。