Late applicants can receive 95% of incentive payments until December 1

Workers and child-rearing households that missed the regular application period can file late applications for 2025 earned income and child incentives until December 1, 2026. Eligible applicants will receive 95% of the calculated amount, though those with assets between 170 million and 240 million won will only receive 50%.

Workers and child-rearing households that missed the regular application period can receive incentive payments by filing a "late application" until December 1. According to guidance from the National Tax Service, applicants who meet the requirements will receive 95% of the calculated incentive amount.

Requirements and Method for Late Application

Late applications for the 2025 earned income and child incentive can be made until December 1, 2026. Eligible applicants must have earned income, business income, or religious income and must satisfy all income, asset, and household requirements.

Income standards for the earned income incentive vary by household type. Single households without a spouse, dependent child, or direct descendant aged 70 or older must have a total income of less than 22 million won. Single-income households with a spouse or dependent child must earn less than 32 million won, and dual-income households must earn less than 44 million won. The child incentive can be applied for by households with a combined annual income of less than 70 million won that have a dependent child under the age of 18.

Asset requirements must also be met. As of June 1, 2025, the total assets of all household members must be less than 240 million won. However, if the total assets are 170 million won or more, only 50% of the calculated incentive will be paid. Late applications are processed within four months of the application date. Those who received an application notice can apply easily via QR code or ARS, while those who did not receive a notice can use the Hometax website. Note that households with only 2025 earned income who have already completed the semi-annual application do not need to file a separate regular or late application.

Light Car Fuel Tax Refund Automatically Applied with Dedicated Cards

A "Light Car Fuel Tax Refund System" is also in operation for light car drivers. Drivers of eligible light cars can receive a fuel tax refund of up to 300,000 won per year. Eligible vehicles include light passenger cars or light cargo vehicles with a displacement of less than 1,000cc.

The refund is limited to households owning one light passenger car, one light cargo vehicle, or one of each. Households owning two or more light passenger cars or light cargo vehicles are excluded. Additionally, benefits cannot be received if a household owns one light passenger car and one regular passenger car, or one light cargo vehicle and one regular cargo vehicle. Those receiving disability fuel subsidies or national merit fuel subsidies, as well as vehicles registered under a corporation or organization, are excluded from the refund.

To receive the benefit, a dedicated fuel purchase card must be issued. Currently, these can be issued through Lotte, Shinhan, and Hyundai Card. When applying, a copy of the vehicle registration and identification is required. Since application methods such as online, telephone, or in-person visits vary by card issuer, prior verification is necessary.

Refunds Unavailable for General Card Use; Caution Against Fraudulent Use

The fuel tax refund is automatically applied when using a dedicated card for refueling, without a separate application process. For credit cards, the amount after deducting the refund per liter is billed, while for check cards, the amount excluding the refund is withdrawn from the account. Therefore, refunds cannot be applied retroactively if refueling is done with a general credit card, check card, or cash.

Furthermore, any unused refund limit for the current year does not carry over to the following year. If the fuel tax refund system is used fraudulently, the user may be excluded from support or face restrictions on card use, and additional taxes may be imposed on unfairly received refund amounts.

Source: original video (YouTube)