If you missed the application for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Child Tax Credit for the previous year last May, you must apply by December 1 of next month.

The National Tax Service announced today (the 2nd) that it will send retrospective application notices to 260,000 households that have not yet applied for the 2025 EITC and Child Tax Credit.

Households that received the notice can apply until December 1 of this coming month. Applications cannot be made after the deadline passes, so you must apply within the period.

Starting this year, the list of eligible recipients also includes 10,000 households newly identified as likely eligible for the credits based on income data collected after the regular application period in May.

Applications can be made by scanning the QR code on the postal notice, clicking "Apply" on the mobile notice, or using the automated telephone service (1544-9944).

Applicants should check for the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) safety mark and watch out for smishing scams before applying.

After reviewing income and assets, 95 percent of the calculated amount for the applied tax credits is scheduled to be paid on January 15 of next year.

To be eligible for the EITC, the combined annual income of a married couple for 2025 must be less than 22 million won for single-person households, 32 million won for single-income households, and 44 million won for dual-income households.

For the Child Tax Credit, households must have a child under the age of 18, and the combined couple's income must be less than 70 million won.

For both the EITC and Child Tax Credit, the total combined assets of all household members as of June 1 of last year must be less than 240 million won, with liabilities not being deducted.

If the total asset value is between 170 million won and 240 million won, only 50 percent of the calculated amount will be paid.

The EITC ranges from a minimum of 30,000 won up to a maximum of 1.65 million won for single-person households, 2.85 million won for single-income households, and 3.30 million won for dual-income households. The Child Tax Credit is paid from a minimum of 500,000 won up to 1 million won per dependent child.

(Photo provided by the National Tax Service, Yonhap News)