PAYROLL SERVICES IN KOREA

CPA-Led Payroll Services for Foreign Companies in Korea

KTE provides senior-led payroll outsourcing for foreign-invested companies that need accurate Korean payroll processing and clear communication with overseas HR and finance teams.

Our professionals bring more than 20 years of hands-on payroll experience covering local employees, expatriates and senior executives, including bonuses, retroactive corrections, net-pay and tax-equalization arrangements, severance, final payroll and year-end tax settlement.

We coordinate payroll with withholding tax, social insurance, employee changes and funding or payment requirements so that responsibilities, approvals and deadlines remain visible to both the Korean entity and overseas headquarters.

Who We Support

• Korean subsidiaries and branches employing local or expatriate staff
• Overseas HR and finance teams that require English-language payroll communication
• Companies with gross, net, shadow or tax-equalized payroll arrangements
• Employers requiring coordinated payroll, social insurance and payment support

How We Help

1. Monthly Payroll Calculation

We calculate regular salary, allowances, bonuses, deductions and statutory withholding based on approved employee data and the agreed payroll timetable.

2. Withholding Tax and Social Insurance

We prepare payroll-related tax and social-insurance information, coordinate filings and payments, and support employee enrollment or status changes where included in the engagement.

3. Joiners, Leavers and Year-End Matters

We support payroll onboarding, final payroll, severance calculations and year-end tax settlement, and coordinate with labor or legal specialists where a matter requires separate advice.

4. Expatriate and HQ Reporting

We help overseas teams understand Korean payroll results and can support expatriate payroll, shadow payroll, net-pay arrangements, payroll journals, funding requests and English-language summaries.

Why Foreign Companies Choose KTE

• Direct access to experienced professionals without layers of junior handoffs
• Clear English explanations for overseas HR, finance and headquarters teams
• Practical coordination across payroll, tax, social insurance, severance and employee changes
• Support for taking over payroll from another provider, a large firm or an EOR arrangement
• Optional coordination of salary, expense, tax and social-insurance payments after approval

Typical Monthly Payroll Process

1. Agree the payroll calendar, employee master data and approval contacts.
2. Receive salary changes, attendance, bonus and reimbursement information.
3. Prepare the draft payroll and resolve questions with the designated contact.
4. Issue final payroll results, payslips and the agreed funding or payment information after approval.
5. Coordinate withholding tax, social-insurance and payroll reporting requirements.

Information We Usually Request

• Employment terms, compensation data and employee identification information
• Joiner, leaver, leave, overtime, bonus and reimbursement details
• Prior payroll and year-to-date tax information for transferred employees
• Expatriate assignment, tax-equalization or net-pay arrangements, if applicable
• Approval contacts, payroll calendar and preferred reporting format

Frequently Asked Questions

Can KTE take over payroll from another provider or an EOR?

Yes. We can review prior payroll records, year-to-date tax information, employee master data and the current payroll calendar, then agree a controlled transition plan with the company and the outgoing provider.

Can you handle expatriates and foreign employees?

Yes. We support foreign employees and expatriates, including nationality-dependent social-insurance treatment, shadow payroll, net-pay arrangements, tax equalization and year-end tax matters where included in the engagement.

Do you support payroll payments as well as calculations?

Yes. Depending on the agreed scope and banking arrangement, KTE can coordinate salary, expense, withholding-tax and social-insurance payments after the client approves the payroll and provides the required funds.

How quickly will you respond to a new service inquiry?

We aim to reply to new service inquiries within one Korean business day. Email-first inquiries are welcome, and providing the employee count, pay date and preferred start date helps us respond efficiently.

Related Guides and Services

• Case Study: From Payroll Provider Transition to Stable Complex Payroll Operations
• Case Study: Korea Payroll Cost Simulations for a Global EOR Provider
• Cost of Hiring an Employee in Korea: 2026 Employer Cost Calculator
• Korea Severance Pay, Retirement Pensions and IRP Rules
• Expat Payroll and Shadow Payroll in Korea
• Korea Social Insurance Contribution Rates for 2025–2026
• Korea Year-End Tax Settlement: Employer Guide