Korea Inheritance Share Calculator

Estimate Korean statutory inheritance ranks, spouse 1.5x share, substitute inheritance, reserved share, deductions, and inheritance tax.

Family structure

Estate assets

Reserved share and tax deductions

Net estate

₩800,000,000

Assets minus debt.

Inheritance rank

Rank 1 descendants

3 active heir(s).

Spouse share

₩342,857,143

42.9% statutory share.

Estimated inheritance tax

₩0

Effective rate 0%.

Heir shares

Spouse

₩342,857,143

Statutory fraction
3/7
Share percent
42.9%
Reserved share floor
₩171,428,571

Child 1

₩228,571,429

Statutory fraction
2/7
Share percent
28.6%
Reserved share floor
₩114,285,714

Child 2

₩228,571,429

Statutory fraction
2/7
Share percent
28.6%
Reserved share floor
₩114,285,714

Inheritance tax basis

Gross estate
₩900,000,000
Net taxable estate before deductions
₩785,000,000
Total deductions
₩1,044,444,444
Taxable base
₩0
Calculated tax before credit
₩0
Early filing credit
₩0
Final estimated tax
₩0

Deduction details

Lump-sum deduction
₩500,000,000
Spouse deduction
₩500,000,000
Financial asset deduction
₩44,444,444
Cohabitation housing deduction
₩0

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What Is the Korea Inheritance Share Calculator?

This calculator estimates statutory inheritance shares in Korea. It determines inheritance rank, applies the spouse 1.5x share rule, handles substitute inheritance by grandchildren, estimates reserved share amounts, and calculates inheritance tax with major deductions.

The model follows the Korean page and references the Korean Civil Act inheritance rules, including the statutory heir order, spouse share, substitute inheritance, reserved share, and the 2026 inheritance tax brackets and deductions used by the calculator.

Who Uses This Calculator?

  • Families checking Korean statutory shares before estate settlement.
  • Spouses and children comparing shares when a spouse receives the 1.5x bonus.
  • Grandchildren checking substitute inheritance when a child predeceased the decedent.
  • Heirs reviewing reserved share exposure after gifts or unequal distributions.
  • People estimating inheritance tax before filing within the statutory period.

Inheritance Rank and Statutory Shares

Order of Heirs

Korean inheritance law gives priority to descendants first, then ascendants, then siblings, then collateral relatives. A spouse inherits together with rank 1 or rank 2 heirs, and inherits alone if there are no such heirs.

  • Rank 1: direct descendants, such as children and substitute grandchildren.
  • Rank 2: direct ascendants, such as parents and grandparents.
  • Rank 3: siblings.
  • Rank 4: collateral relatives within the statutory degree.
  • Spouse: co-heir with rank 1 or 2 heirs, or sole heir if no rank 1 or 2 heir exists.

Spouse 1.5x Share

When the spouse inherits with children or parents, the spouse's statutory share is calculated as 1.5 units while each same-rank heir generally receives 1 unit. For example, a spouse and two children produce 3.5 total units: spouse 1.5/3.5 and each child 1/3.5.

Spouse + two children = spouse 3/7, each child 2/7

Substitute Inheritance and Reserved Share

Substitute Inheritance

If a child of the decedent died before the decedent but left children, those grandchildren can substitute into the deceased child's share. The calculator divides the deceased child's unit among the substitute grandchildren.

  • A living child receives a normal child unit.
  • A predeceased child's descendants divide that child's unit.
  • The spouse share is still calculated with the same 1.5x unit rule.

Reserved Share

Reserved share protects close heirs from receiving too little because of gifts, wills, or unequal distributions. The calculator checks a simple reserved share violation against the first active heir using the basis estate and gift inputs.

  • Children and spouse: one-half of their statutory share.
  • Parents and siblings: one-third of their statutory share.
  • Collateral relatives: no reserved share in the calculator.
  • Gifts: gifts within 1 year and gifts to heirs within 10 years are reflected in the calculator's basis input.

Inheritance Tax Estimate

Major Deductions Used

  • Lump-sum deduction: KRW 500,000,000.
  • Spouse deduction: minimum KRW 500,000,000 and maximum KRW 3,000,000,000.
  • Financial asset deduction: 20% of qualifying net financial assets, capped at KRW 200,000,000.
  • Cohabitation housing deduction: capped at KRW 600,000,000.
  • Funeral expense maximum reflected before tax: KRW 15,000,000.
  • Early filing credit: 3% of calculated tax when selected.

2026 Tax Brackets Used by the Calculator

Taxable baseRateQuick deduction
Up to KRW 200M10%KRW 0
KRW 200M-500M20%KRW 20M
KRW 500M-1B30%KRW 70M
KRW 1B-3B40%KRW 170M
Over KRW 3B50%KRW 470M

Timing Issues

  • Acceptance or renunciation: heirs should review the 3-month period from awareness of inheritance commencement.
  • Inheritance tax filing: generally filed within 6 months from the inheritance commencement date for domestic cases.
  • Tax credit: the calculator's 3% early filing credit assumes timely filing when the option is selected.
  • Reserved share: limitation periods and gift timing require separate legal review.

How to Use the Calculator

1. Enter Family Structure

Select spouse, children, substitute grandchildren, parents, and siblings. The calculator determines the active inheritance rank.

2. Enter Assets and Debts

Add real estate, financial assets, other assets, and debts. Net estate is used for share allocation.

3. Check Reserved Share If Needed

Turn on reserved share analysis and enter actual inheritance and gifts to estimate a possible claimable amount.

4. Review Tax Deductions

Toggle spouse, financial asset, cohabitation housing, and early filing deductions to see how the tax estimate changes.

FAQ

Does the spouse always inherit?

A surviving spouse inherits with rank 1 or rank 2 heirs and receives a 1.5x share. If there are no descendants or ascendants, the spouse may inherit alone.

What happens if one child died before the parent?

If that child left descendants, the descendants can inherit by substitution and divide the deceased child's share.

Is reserved share the same as statutory share?

No. Reserved share is a minimum protected portion, usually one-half or one-third of the statutory share depending on heir type.

Does this replace a tax filing calculation?

No. It is an estimate. Real inheritance tax filing requires valuation, deduction proof, debt verification, and professional review for larger estates.

Legal References

  • Civil Act inheritance provisions: statutory heir order, spouse share, and substitute inheritance.
  • Civil Act reserved share rules: protected minimum shares for close heirs.
  • Inheritance Tax and Gift Tax Act: estate tax brackets, deductions, filing credit, and filing obligations.
  • Timing: 3-month acceptance or renunciation review and 6-month inheritance tax filing window are critical in practice.