6 Things to Compare When Getting a Bookkeeping Quote in Korea: The Same KRW 100,000 per Month Can Cover Different Work

For foreign nationals: some of these rules apply differently depending on whether you are a resident or a non-resident for Korean tax purposes. Check your residency status before relying on this article.

Do not compare bookkeeping quotes by the monthly price alone. At the same KRW 100,000 per month, one office may include VAT and withholding tax filing, while another may charge extra for payroll work or for closing and filing. Set the 6 points below on the same basis, then compare the annual total.

6 points to compare in a bookkeeping quote

What to compare	Question to ask
1. Closing and filing fee (adjustment fee, 조정료)	Is it separate from the monthly fee? If so, how much?
2. Included filings	Are VAT and withholding tax filings included in the monthly fee?
3. Payroll work	Are the payroll ledger, four social insurance filings, year-end tax settlement (연말정산), and payment statements included, or charged per employee?
4. Annual total	What is monthly fee × 12 + adjustment fee + extra work fee?
5. Contact method and response time	Who do you talk to, on which channel (KakaoTalk, phone, email), and how fast do they reply?
6. Notice before filing	Do they tell you the estimated tax and the due date before you file?

How to compare by annual total

Calculate the annual total like this.

Annual total = monthly fee × 12 + closing and filing fee (adjustment fee) + extra work fee

Even with a cheap monthly fee, a large adjustment fee or payroll fee can make the annual total higher. If you collect several quotes, put them in one table like the one below.

Item	Office A	Office B
Monthly fee
Adjustment fee	Included / Separate (KRW )	Included / Separate (KRW )
VAT and withholding tax filing	Included / Separate	Included / Separate
Payroll work	Included / Extra per employee	Included / Extra per employee
Annual total

What to send when you request a quote

The more information you send, the closer the quote is to the actual fee.

Whether you are a sole proprietor or a company, and your industry
Annual sales (approximate)
Number of employees and how you pay them (four social insurance or 3.3% freelancers)
Monthly number of transactions (tax invoices, card, and cash; approximate)
The work you need: VAT, withholding tax, four social insurance filings, year-end tax settlement, closing the accounts, and comprehensive income tax or corporate tax
If another tax accountant currently handles your books, tell them (you may need a transfer)

What cheap quotes often leave out

The adjustment fee is charged separately, which raises the annual total
The quote does not say whether employee work is included in the bookkeeping fee, or how much is added per employee
The books are organized all at once just before filing, so it is hard to know your estimated tax before that
Replies to your questions are slow, or the person in charge changes often

Barun Tax & Accounting bookkeeping fees

Type	Monthly fee
Sole proprietor	From KRW 100,000 per month
Company	From KRW 120,000 per month

VAT and withholding tax filing, four social insurance filings, and year-end tax settlement are included in the monthly fee. If you have employees, the fee may vary with the number of employees. The closing and filing fee (adjustment fee) is separate from the bookkeeping fee, and the amount is quoted after a consultation, based on transaction volume and scope of work.

When you can do it yourself · When to hand it over

You can handle it yourself if

You already have several quotes and only need to put them in a table using these points

Better to hand it over if

The quotes cover different work, and you cannot tell which is cheaper
You have work that often costs extra, such as payroll, four social insurance filings, or overseas clients
You are comparing quotes because you plan to switch from your current tax accountant

Barun Tax & Accounting handles bookkeeping for foreign residents and foreign-owned companies, starting at KRW 100,000 per month for sole proprietors and KRW 120,000 per month for companies. We reply to emails within one business day. contact@barun-tax.com · KakaoTalk · +82-10-2701-6199

Frequently asked questions

What should I compare in bookkeeping quotes?

Compare the annual total (monthly fee × 12 + year-end closing and filing fee) and the included work, not the monthly fee. At the same KRW 100,000 per month, one office may include VAT (부가가치세) and withholding tax (원천세) filing, while another may charge extra for payroll work.

What is the adjustment fee (closing and filing fee)?

It is the fee for closing your books once a year and filing comprehensive income tax (종합소득세) or corporate tax (법인세). Many offices charge it separately from the monthly bookkeeping fee, so when you get a quote, check whether it is included or separate, and how much it is.

What should I tell the office when I request a quote?

Tell them whether you are a sole proprietor or a company, your industry, your annual sales, the number of employees, the approximate number of transactions per month, and the work you need (VAT, withholding tax, four social insurance filings, year-end tax settlement, and so on). The more you share, the more accurate the quote.

This article is general guidance based on Korean tax law as of the date written. It is not tax advice for your specific situation. Please consult us before acting on it.

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