Korean e-Tax Invoices - 
Issuance, Transmission and Content

What is e-Tax?

In 2011, Korea introduced an electronic tax invoice system (e-Tax), making the electronic issuance of tax invoices mandatory for Korean companies. This tax invoice system reduces accounting costs by enabling the online issuance and distribution of e-Tax invoices and their web-based transmission to the Korean tax authority, the National Tax Service (NTS).

Issuance and Transmission

Options of Issuance

Companies have various options for issuing e-Tax invoices online:

  • With the free service of eSero via www.esero.go.kr.
  • Via an Application Service Provider (ASP) at one’s own expense
  • By embedding the issuance and transfer to the ERP system used

There is also the option to issue tax invoices offline by using the AVRS phone service or by visiting the local tax office.

Preparation

To use an online e-Tax invoice system (eSero, ASP, ERP), the supplier (invoice issuer) requires an authenticated digital certificate. Furthermore – prior to the actual issuance – a copy of the tax registration certificate (business registration) of the client (invoice addressee) as well as the e-mail address of the supplied party’s person responsible for in order to create the issued tax invoice.

Time of Issuance

Tax invoices should be issued at the time of delivery of goods or services to the customer. Once an e-Tax invoice has been issued and distributed, a revision is only possible in exceptional cases, as defined by the relevant Presidential Decree.

There are, however, special cases with regards to the time of supply for goods or services and the issuance of tax invoices respectively:

  1. Supplier receives payment and issues tax invoice prior to the delivery of goods or services – the invoice date shall be deemed the date of supply for goods or services.

  2. Supplier issues a tax invoice prior to the delivery of goods or services. The customer may pay the invoice within seven days of issuance – the invoice date shall be deemed the date of supply for goods or services.

  3. If a supplier delivers goods or services in installments, the invoice date shall be deemed the date of supply for goods or services.

Suppliers may issue tax invoices prior the supply of the goods or services or on the day of delivery. They also have the possibility to choose the time of issuance until the 10th day of the following month (at the latest). The issuance of an e-Tax invoice is considered completed once the e-Tax invoice file has been sent to the customer.

Transmission

The transmission of an e-Tax invoice to the NTS should follow immediately after its issuance. However, issued e-Tax invoices may also be summarized and transferred monthly – by the 10th of the following month at the latest (if the 10th is a Saturday or public holiday, by the next working day).

Penalty on unissued, non- or delayed transmitted Tax Invoices

In the event that the supplier does not issue a tax invoice or issues another form (i.e. tax invoice in paper form), a penalty of 2% of the value of the delivery must be paid by both contracting parties. If the supplier fails to send an issued e-Tax invoice to NTS by the 10th of the following month at the latest, a penalty of 1% of the delivery value will be imposed.

Actual Issuance

There are two types of fields on a tax invoice: fields that are mandatory to be filled out as well as others, which are optional.

Mandatory information

  1. Tax number, name of the supplying party
  2. Tax number of the supplied party (ID number or resident registration number if the supplied party is no business person or a non-registered business person)
  3. Value of supply, Value Added Tax amount
  4. Date of preperation

Optional information

  1. Address of supplying party
  2. Company name, name, address of supplied party
  3. Item supplied
  4. Unit price and quantity
  5. Date of delivery and other considerations



 Sample Tax Invoice

 

 

The information provided within this article is for general informational purposes only. While we try to keep the information correct and up-to-date, there are no representations or warranties, expressed or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in this article for any purpose. ABK does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from accident, negligence, or any other cause. Any use of this information is at your own risk.