Korean Dictionary
How to say "Tax" in Korean
“Tax” in Korean is 세금 (pronounced "segeum").
세금
segeum
Usage & Context
Mandatory financial charges imposed by the government. Taxes in Korea are deducted from salaries and business income. Companies must file tax returns and maintain accurate records.
Example Sentence
세금을 납부해야 합니다.
I need to pay taxes.
How to use 세금 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Tax” is 세금, romanized as segeum.
Usage tip
Business Korean usually needs polite or formal endings, especially in emails, meetings, and customer situations.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 세금.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, '세' (se), sounds like the English word 'say'. The second syllable, '금' (geum), sounds like 'geum' (similar to 'gum' but with a tighter 'oo' sound, like 'goom'). The stress is fairly even.
More Example Sentences
Announcing tax season on the news or at work.
매년 5월은 종합소득세 신고 기간입니다.
May every year is the comprehensive income tax filing period.
Explaining payroll deductions to a new employee.
월급에서 세금이 자동으로 공제돼요.
Taxes are automatically deducted from my salary.
Reporting on government policy debates.
세금 인상에 대한 논의가 활발합니다.
Discussions about tax increases are active.
Cultural Context
'세금' is a constant and significant topic in Korean society, from personal finance to national policy. Koreans are generally very aware of various taxes (income tax, property tax, VAT, etc.). The annual tax filing season (연말정산 for salaried workers, 종합소득세 신고 for others) is a major event, often discussed among colleagues and friends. Tax evasion is viewed very negatively and can lead to severe social and legal repercussions.
Editorial note
We review business terms like 세금 for formality, so the example fits emails, meetings, or workplace conversations instead of casual speech.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
세금을 내다
To pay taxes
세금을 절약하다
To save on taxes (tax avoidance)
세금 혜택
Tax benefits
Related Expressions
세무서
semuseo
Tax office
세금 신고
segeum singo
Tax filing
세금 납부
segeum napbu
Tax payment
부가세
bugase
VAT (Value Added Tax)
More Business Words
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