National Tax Service Commissioner Lim Gwang-hyeon said on the 13th that "starting this year, the National Tax Service will, for the first time, calculate in advance and inform married joint owners of a single home of the most favorable comprehensive real estate tax."
Lim said on X (formerly Twitter) the same day, "We will also find and refund comprehensive real estate tax that married joint owners of a single home overpaid because they did not know," and stated accordingly.
Commissioner Lim said, "This review found about 5,700 married joint owners for whom applying the special provision is advantageous tax-wise, and about 2,900 existing applicants for whom canceling the special provision is more favorable as a taxpayer."
The comprehensive real estate tax shifted from a household-based aggregated taxation system to an individual-based system in 2008. When a couple jointly owns a single home, they may end up paying more comprehensive real estate tax than a sole owner of a single home, so a special provision for married joint owners of a single home has been in effect since 2021. The method deducts 1.2 billion won from the posted price and then reduces the tax based on age and holding period. However, applying the special provision is not always advantageous. Depending on the posted price, it can be more favorable to receive the basic deduction of up to 1.8 billion won for a couple combined as a one-household, two-home owner.
Commissioner Lim said, "As to which option is advantageous, taxpayers who are not familiar with the tax code and are busy with their livelihoods had to go into Hometax themselves, run simulations, and decide on their own whether to apply or cancel." He added, "In line with the government's active administration policy, the National Tax Service will expand tailored guidance in areas where it is difficult for taxpayers to decide on their own, reducing inconvenience and ensuring they do not miss out on benefits."