South Korea's cryptocurrency tax implementation rules remain unclear; every step of swapping BTC for USDT on overseas exchanges may be taxed.

TechFlow news, August 5, according to Korean media MK, the annual tax reform plan previously announced by the South Korean government did not include a proposal to further postpone the taxation of virtual assets (cryptocurrencies), meaning the 2027 taxation schedule stipulated by current laws will likely remain in place. According to the current South Korean "Income Tax Act", starting from 2027, income from virtual asset transfers and lending will be classified as "other income". Investors will enjoy an annual tax-free allowance of 2.5 million KRW, with the excess subject to a 20% income tax plus an additional 10% local income tax, resulting in a comprehensive tax rate of 22%.

However, with less than two years remaining before formal implementation, the "trading profit and loss calculation standards" most concerned by investors and trading platforms still lack clear detailed rules, triggering industry concerns about chaotic implementation. According to the direction of the current system, trading models such as "BTC→USDT→altcoins" on overseas exchanges may require calculating transfer gains at each exchange step. For investors who simultaneously use exchanges, on-chain wallets, and DeFi services, personally tracking all transaction records and cost basis is "nearly impossible", which may increase the burden on ordinary investors.