A petition with 50,000 signatures is asking South Korea to delay its new crypto tax by two years. The tax is currently set to start on January 1, 2027, and the petition wants to push that back. So far, the request is just that: a request, not an approved change.
- The petition has reached 50,000 signatures.
- It seeks a two-year delay to South Korea’s crypto tax.
- The available information does not show that any delay has been approved.
South Korea crypto tax petition draws 50,000 signatures
A public petition on South Korea’s crypto tax has gathered 50,000 signatures, according to a September 14, 2026 report by crypto.news. The petition asks lawmakers to postpone the tax before it takes effect. For related coverage, see South Korea: Bankrupt Exchange Crypto Accounts Reportable.
Petition signatures reported by crypto.news
50,000
The 50,000 figure comes from that single report. The original parliamentary petition page could not be read directly, so the signature total has not been independently confirmed. For related coverage, see 4,375 ETH Selloff Explained: Crypto Treasury Shift to AI Data Centers.
It is also worth being careful here. The signatures show interest from some investors, but they do not represent every crypto holder in South Korea.
Petition seeks a two-year crypto tax delay
The petition’s request is simple: push the start of the tax back by two years. In plain terms, that means the tax would begin later, not disappear.
Requested tax delay, as reported
2 years
A delay is different from abolition. The petition, as reported, is not asking to cancel the tax. It only wants more time before the rules apply.
Here is what the tax actually involves. South Korea’s National Tax Service says a December 2024 law postponed crypto income taxation by two years already. Under that law, transfers and lending from January 1, 2027 become taxable.
The rules include a 20% national tax rate on the crypto income tax base and an annual basic deduction of 2,500,000 South Korean won (about 250만원). Reporting from crypto.news adds a 2% local tax, which brings the combined rate to 22% on crypto gains starting in 2027.
The tax authority also explains how to calculate gains. Residents combine their annual gains and losses, then report the total as “other income” during May 1 to May 31 of the following year.
Two more rules matter for people who already own crypto. Acquisition costs are worked out using the total-average method (총평균법), where all purchases are averaged together. For assets held before January 1, 2027, the cost is the greater of the actual purchase price or the December 31, 2026 market value.
What the petition establishes about the tax timeline
The word “seeks” is doing a lot of work here. A petition is a request. It is not a law, and it does not change the tax schedule on its own.
Crypto.news also notes that sending a petition to a committee does not amend the Income Tax Act or automatically postpone the tax. In other words, committee review is a step, not a decision.
So the available information confirms one thing: the petition exists and asks for a two-year delay. It does not show that any delay has been approved or that a new start date has been set.
For a regular crypto holder in South Korea, the practical takeaway is clear. As of now, the tax is still scheduled to begin on January 1, 2027, with returns filed the following May. This fits a wider pattern of the country tightening its rules around crypto, including stricter transfer reporting requirements. If the petition succeeds, the schedule could change; until then, the current rules stand.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.
