Overview of the 새로운 간이지급명세서(근로소득) 개정사항
Starting January 1, 2027, South Korea is introducing revisions to the reporting of simple payout statements for wage income (간이지급명세서). Key changes include adjustments to penalties for late or missing filings and altered submission frequencies.(d.nts.go.kr)
What’s Changing
| Issue | Old Rule | New Rule (From 2027-01-01) |
|---|---|---|
| Penalty for failing to submit 간이지급명세서 | Penalties applied immediately when not submitted by the due date | 0.25% penalty waived if documents are submitted by the due date during the temporary relief period (2027-01-01 ~ 2027-12-31; for small businesses, relief extends to 2028-12-31) (d.nts.go.kr) |
| Frequency of submission | Every half year (every 6 months) | Monthly reporting requirement introduced (d.nts.go.kr) |
| Partial underreporting exception | Penalty applied regardless of extent | Penalty waived if underreported or ambiguous amounts are within 5% of total payments (d.nts.go.kr) |
Who Is Affected
- Employers paying salary to full-time (상용) workers in Korea. Temporary wage earners or part-time/day laborers may be subject to different rules.
- Small businesses with 20 or fewer full-time workers benefit from extended relief up to end of 2028. Larger employers must fully comply with the revised regime starting 2027.(d.nts.go.kr)
Practical Compliance Tips
- Assess eligibility: Determine whether your business qualifies as a small business under the new regime.
- Reconfigure payroll cycles: Move from semi-annual to monthly reporting to avoid penalties.
- Ensure timely filing: Submit reports by the old half-yearly deadlines for relief during the transitional period.
- Audit payment records: Verify amounts for accuracy; if underreporting is <5%, penalties may be waived.
- Train payroll staff: Update internal process manuals or systems to reflect submission frequency and penalty thresholds.
Example:
An employer with 15 full-time employees submits their wage payout statement for June 2027 on July 28 (deadline was end of July). Since they have ≤20 employees, they’re eligible for the temporary relief. As long as the content is submitted by the original timeline and underreported figures are under 5%, no penalty applies. But from Jan 2028, they must submit on a monthly basis and abide by the new timeline.
Bigger Picture & Why It Matters
These changes show South Korea’s push toward modernising reporting requirements, reducing burden on smaller employers, and increasing transparency. It aligns with global digital reporting trends and improvements in taxpayer-friendly administration.
By proactively preparing—updating payroll policies, investing in systems, and training staff—employers can minimize risk and optimize operations under the revised regulation.