The payment of the 2025 regular earned income and child tax credits has been fully completed. The statutory payment deadline was October 1, but the National Tax Service is understood to have accelerated the schedule by about a month, taking into account holiday season funding needs.

■ Payment Scale... 2.8741 Trillion Won to 2.7 Million Households, Averaging 1.06 Million Won per Household

The recipients are 2.7 million households among those who applied in May whose earned, business, or religious income was verified. The total amount calculated by the National Tax Service is 2.8741 trillion won, averaging 1.06 million won per household. By category, the earned income credit was paid to 2.04 million households totaling 2.2551 trillion won, while the child tax credit was paid to 660,000 households totaling 619 billion won.

■ How to Receive It... Bank Deposit or Cash Pickup at Post Offices

The payment method follows what was selected at the time of application. Households that chose bank deposits have already received the funds without additional procedures. Households that applied for cash pickup can receive the payment at post office counters by presenting identification and the tax refund notice. Inquiries regarding payment can be made at the tax credit call center.

■ Missed the Application?... Late Applications via Hometax or ARS Until December 1, with Only 95% of the Assessed Amount Paid

Households that met this year's requirements but missed the application period still have an opportunity. Late applications can be submitted via Hometax or the automated response system (ARS) until December 1. However, it should be noted that only 95% of the assessed amount will be paid in this case.

■ Business Income Earners Account for 77.4% of Regular Applications

By income type, business income households, which are only eligible for regular applications, accounted for the largest share at 2.09 million households (77.4%). Earned income households, which can choose both regular and semi-annual applications, amounted to just 590,000 households (21.9%). This means the proportion of regular applications was much higher among business income earners, whose options are limited, than among earned income earners, who can flexibly choose their application timing.

■ If Tax Revision Bill Passes, Maximum Payment to Rise to 3.6 Million Won

The National Tax Service stated that the 2026 tax revision bill includes provisions reflecting the minimum wage increase by easing income requirements and raising the maximum payment to 3.6 million won in consideration of inflation. If the bill passes the National Assembly, the number of recipient households could increase again from next year.

However, this is still at the revision bill stage rather than a confirmed implementation outcome. The actual extent of the eased requirements and the implementation timeline can only be confirmed by monitoring the legislative process.

Key points to watch going forward include: whether the tax revision bill passes the National Assembly; the specific figures for the easing of income and asset requirements if it passes; and whether this early payment arrangement will also apply to the next semi-annual payment schedule.

[This article was written based on materials released by the National Tax Service, and details on tax credit payment requirements and the tax revision may change depending on future policy changes. AI assistance was partially used.]