Cash Receipt Phone Number Registration and Deduction Check
If you received cash receipts using your mobile phone number, check that the number is registered as an issuance method in Hometax. You can also find out how to register it, why transactions may be missing from your usage history, the conditions for combining family members' expenses, and how cash receipts differ from business expense documentation.
- After logging in to Hometax, open the menu for managing mobile phone numbers and cards used to issue cash receipts.
- Check whether the mobile phone number you use when paying is registered.
- If the number is missing or different, follow the on-screen instructions to register or change it.
- The day after registering it, check your cash receipt usage history to see whether each transaction has been recorded.
- Before including expenses in your year-end tax settlement, check which expenses qualify for deductions and the conditions for combining family members' expenses.
If you receive cash receipts using your mobile phone number, you need to register it as an issuance method with Hometax. Without registration, your identity cannot be verified, so you cannot claim the income deduction. After registering, check that the receipts appear in your transaction history.
The deduction rates are based on the Restriction of Special Taxation Act effective September 18, 2026.
How to register your mobile phone number for cash receipts
Check your number in Hometax’s cash receipt issuance method management menu. A cash receipt is proof that records a transaction paid for in cash. Your mobile phone number identifies who made the transaction.
- Log in to Hometax using an account in your name.
- Under “Invoices, Receipts and Cards,” select “Cash Receipts (Employees and Consumers).”
- Open the “Consumer Issuance Methods and Dedicated Cards” menu.
- Select “Manage Mobile Phone Numbers/Cards for Cash Receipt Issuance.”
- Check the number you actually use when paying, then register or update it.
- Look up your cash receipt transaction history the next day.
The National Tax Service FAQ gives the following guidance on when you can view your history after registering.
If you sign up for Hometax and register an issuance method, you can check your cash receipt transaction history the next day.
This quote is from the National Tax Service document “If I do not sign up for Hometax, will I be unable to claim an income deduction during year-end tax settlement?” Do not assume that signing up also completes issuance method registration. It is more reliable to check your number directly on the issuance method management screen. National Tax Service registration guidance
If signing up for Hometax is difficult
You can also register an issuance method through the National Tax Service Tax Counseling Center’s automated phone system. The National Tax Service provides instructions for verification using a mobile phone in your name. Follow the phone prompts to register.
- Call the National Tax Service Tax Counseling Center at 126.
- Select 1 for the cash receipt automated service, then select 1 again.
- Verify your identity and set a password for the automated service.
- Register an issuance method, such as your mobile phone number.
Will cash receipts issued before registration be included?
Receipts issued using the same number before registration can also be included in your transaction history. Registering your number late does not mean you have to give up all your earlier receipts. After registering, check whether each transaction has been included. National Tax Service guidance on including transactions before registration
However, registering a number links you to transactions for which receipts have already been issued. It does not create receipts for transactions where none were issued. Nor does it automatically amend tax settlements for previous years.
| Current situation | What to check | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| You received receipts using the same number but did not register it | Whether earlier transactions appear after registration | Register the number used to issue the receipts |
| Your mobile phone number changed | Transactions issued under your old and new numbers | Update the issuance method, then check for missing transactions |
| A receipt was mistakenly issued under another number | The issuance method and approval number on the receipt | Ask the seller how to correct it |
| You did not receive a cash receipt at all | Whether the seller actually issued one | Check with the seller, then ask the National Tax Service how to handle it |
| A deduction for a previous year was missed | That year’s tax filing and the deduction requirements | Ask your company’s tax contact or the National Tax Service Tax Counseling Center about the correction process |
Update your issuance method information when your number changes. If an earlier transaction does not appear, have the receipt from that time ready. Giving the National Tax Service the transaction date and approval number will help you make a more specific inquiry. Article 42 of the Regulations on the Use of Hometax
Comparing income deduction rates for cash receipts and credit cards
The income deduction rate for general cash receipt spending is 30%. General credit card spending is subject to a 15% rate. However, your annual eligible spending must exceed 25% of your total wages.
| Payment method | Deduction rate for general spending | Conditions to check |
|---|---|---|
| Cash receipt | 30% | Whether the transaction is attributed to you and the expense qualifies |
| Check card or debit card | 30% | Whether the spending qualifies |
| Credit card | 15% | Whether the spending qualifies |
These rates are for general spending under the law effective September 18, 2026. Spending at traditional markets and on public transportation is calculated at separate rates. You cannot apply multiple payment-method deduction rates to the same expense. Article 126-2 of the Restriction of Special Taxation Act
An income deduction reduces the income on which tax is calculated. It does not mean you receive 30% of your cash receipt amount back in cash. The actual reduction in tax depends on factors such as your applicable tax rate and deduction limit.
How is the 25% of total wages threshold determined?
It is determined by adding together eligible card and cash receipt spending. Cash receipt spending is not compared with total wages on its own. Total wages also differ from the take-home pay deposited into your bank account.
- If eligible spending is at most 25% of your total wages, this deduction does not apply.
- If it exceeds the threshold, spending by payment method is entered into the statutory formula.
- The deduction limit for the relevant tax year applies to the calculated amount.
If you used multiple payment methods, do not multiply the entire amount above the threshold by 30%. The National Tax Service provides a formula by payment method. (Verified value: The annual deduction formula is general credit card spending × 15% + general cash receipt, debit card and prepaid card spending × 30% + applicable cultural and sports spending × 30% + traditional market spending × 40% + public transportation spending × 40%, minus the deduction related to the minimum spending threshold · Source: nts.go.kr · Checked 2026-10-20) Check the result using your actual spending on the year-end tax settlement calculation screen. National Tax Service guidance on the benefits of receiving cash receipts
Conditions for including family members’ spending
You can include spending by your spouse and direct ascendants and descendants if they meet the requirements. Direct ascendants and descendants include parents, grandparents, children and grandchildren. Your spouse’s direct ascendants are also included.
The income requirement for a family member is annual income of at most 1 million won. If they have only employment income, the limit is total annual wages of at most 5 million won. You must also check support requirements, such as whether you share a livelihood.
| Family member’s situation | Whether credit card and other spending can be included |
|---|---|
| A spouse or direct ascendant or descendant who meets the income and support requirements | Can be included |
| A parent or child who cannot receive the basic deduction because of the age requirement | Do not exclude based on age alone; check the other requirements |
| A spouse or direct ascendant or descendant who exceeds the income limit | Cannot be included |
| A sibling | Cannot be included, even if eligible for the basic deduction |
| A family member for whom someone else claims the basic deduction | Cannot be included twice |
The age limit for the basic deduction does not apply to the income deduction for credit card and other spending. You may therefore miss eligible family spending if you look only at whether the family member qualifies for the basic deduction. Check the family relationship and income requirements separately. National Tax Service guidance on family deductions
If family members received receipts using their own numbers, check that each person has registered their issuance method. The process for an employee to view family members’ records is separate. You must also check their consent status for sharing records through the simplified year-end tax settlement service. National Tax Service guidance on viewing family members’ transaction histories
Comparing receipts for income deductions and business expense documentation
Distinguish between cash receipts for personal living expenses and business costs. Receipts for income deductions are used in employees’ year-end tax settlement records. Receipts for expense documentation provide proof of business-related costs.
| Category | For income deductions | For expense documentation |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Income deduction for personal spending | Proof of business-related spending |
| Issuance method commonly used | Registered mobile phone number or consumer card | Business registration number or business card |
| Wording to check on the receipt | Cash (Income Deduction) | Cash (Expense Documentation) |
| What to check for tax purposes | Employment income and eligible spending | Business relevance and tax-law requirements for deducting costs and input VAT |
Do not assume the receipt’s purpose just because you used a mobile phone number. If it was a business expense, check that the receipt is marked for expense documentation. If it was mistakenly issued for an income deduction, you can check Hometax’s change-of-purpose feature. National Tax Service guidance on cash receipt types and changing their purpose
Changing the purpose does not make VAT deductible for every business expense. The expense must be business-related and meet the requirements for an input VAT deduction. Do not also include an amount treated as a business cost in an employee’s deduction for consumer spending. National Tax Service guidance on benefits for businesses receiving cash receipts
If a transaction is missing, check issuance, attribution and deduction separately
If a transaction is missing from your history, checking issuance, its connection to you and its tax treatment separately can help narrow down the cause. The table below reorganizes National Tax Service guidance into a sequence of checks. First identify which stage has a problem.
| Stage to check | What to confirm | What to look at if there is a problem |
|---|---|---|
| Issuance | Whether the seller issued a cash receipt | Approval number, issue date, transaction amount |
| Attribution to you | Whether the transaction is linked to your history | Registered number, incorrect number entry, whether it was issued without consumer information |
| Deduction | Whether the linked transaction meets the deduction requirements | Purpose of spending, excluded items, total wages threshold, deduction limit |
Receipts issued without giving your number
You can separately register transactions issued without consumer information under the number designated by the National Tax Service. This happens when the seller issues a receipt without the consumer’s information. It is handled through a different menu from mobile phone number registration.
- Check the approval number, issue date and transaction amount on the receipt.
- Open Hometax’s “Cash Receipts (Employees and Consumers)” menu.
- Select “Employee and Consumer Lookup/Change.”
- Enter the transaction information under “Consumer Registration of Cash Receipts Issued Without Consumer Information.”
The National Tax Service provides guidance on transactions issued under the designated number 010-000-1234. If you see that number, check whether the receipt was issued without consumer information. If you do not have the information needed to register it, ask the seller for the receipt. National Tax Service instructions for registering receipts issued without consumer information
Common mistakes with cash receipt deductions
Even if a cash receipt appears in your history, its full amount may not qualify for an income deduction. You need to identify spending excluded from the deduction. In particular, check for expenses that overlap with other tax credits.
| Common assumption | What to check instead |
|---|---|
| Assuming everything paid in cash is deductible | Whether each type of expense is excluded |
| Including electricity and phone bills in eligible spending | These utility charges are excluded from the income deduction for credit card and other spending |
| Including rent for which you receive a tax credit in cash receipt spending | The same rent cannot be deducted twice |
| Including all family records that you can view | Relationship, income and support requirements, and whether a deduction is claimed twice |
| Assuming every person filing a comprehensive income tax return gets a 30% deduction | The income deduction for credit card and other spending applies to employees |
National and local taxes and apartment management fees are also excluded from this deduction. Amounts spent on gift certificates are likewise not included in eligible spending. You can check the rules on including family spending and excluded items in the National Tax Service’s simplified year-end tax settlement guidance. (Verified value: The income limit for including family spending is annual income of at most 1 million won, or total wages of at most 5 million won if the person has only employment income. Spending by a spouse and direct ascendants and descendants can be included; siblings and family members for whom another resident claims the basic deduction are excluded. National and local · Source: hometax.speedycdn.net · Checked 2026-10-20) National Tax Service simplified year-end tax settlement Q&A
Using a cash receipt card instead of a phone number
You can use a dedicated card or a Sontax mobile card instead of entering your phone number. A cash receipt card is an issuance method that identifies who made the transaction. Its purpose differs from that of a credit card used to pay.
| Issuance method | How to use it when paying | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile phone number | Give or enter the number | Whether it matches the number registered with Hometax |
| Physical dedicated card | Present it for cash receipt issuance | Whether the card number you received matches the registered card number |
| Sontax mobile card | Show the barcode on the screen | Whether the store can scan the barcode |
You can apply for a physical consumer dedicated card through Hometax. The National Tax Service advises checking that the number on the card you receive matches the registered number. Apply for the card through the “Consumer Issuance Methods and Dedicated Cards” menu. National Tax Service guidance on applying for a dedicated card
Sontax provides a barcode linked to your cash receipt card number. Open the cash receipt mobile card in the app and show it. Scanning it at the store can replace entering your phone number. National Tax Service mobile card guidance
FAQ
If I get a cash receipt using my mobile phone number, is it automatically eligible for an income tax deduction?
You must register the number as a cash receipt issuance method in Hometax. Even after the receipt appears in your personal transaction history, you must meet the income tax deduction requirements.
Does signing up for Hometax also register my number?
Do not assume registration is complete just because you signed up. Check the number actually registered under Mobile Phone Number/Card Management for Cash Receipt Issuance.
When can I check my transaction history after registering my number?
The National Tax Service FAQ says you can check it the day after registering an issuance method. If no transactions appear, check the search period and the number actually used to issue the receipt.
Do cash receipts issued before I registered my number also count?
Receipts issued using the same number before registration can also be included in your personal spending. After registering, check whether each transaction appears. Previous years' tax returns are not automatically amended.
What should I do if I change my phone number?
Update your number under cash receipt issuance methods in Hometax. Check whether transactions issued using both your old and new numbers appear.
Is the 30% income tax deduction rate for cash receipts a refund rate?
It is not a refund rate. Under the law effective September 18, 2026, it is the income tax deduction rate for general spending. The actual reduction in tax depends on factors such as the deduction limit and the applicable tax rate.
Does my cash receipt spending alone have to exceed 25% of my total salary?
Annual spending on eligible credit cards, debit cards, cash receipts, and other qualifying methods is combined. The combined amount must exceed 25% of your total salary for the year.
Can I include spending by a child who is too old to qualify for the basic deduction?
The age limit for the basic deduction does not apply to the income tax deduction for credit card and similar spending. You can include your child's spending if the child meets the income and dependent support requirements, among others.
Can I include my siblings' cash receipts?
You cannot include your siblings' spending, even if they qualify for the basic deduction.
What should I do if I used my personal mobile phone number for a business expense?
First, check whether the receipt is for an income tax deduction or as proof of expenditure. If it was incorrectly issued for an income tax deduction, you can check Hometax's change-of-purpose function. Claiming it as an expense and deducting input tax each have separate requirements.
Can I get the 30% income tax deduction if I have only business income and no employment income?
The income tax deduction for credit card and similar spending is for people with employment income. If you have only business income, you should check the requirements for treating business-related spending as a necessary expense.
Can I register a receipt issued without giving my phone number?
If the cash receipt was voluntarily issued using a number designated by the National Tax Service, you can register it as a consumer. Have the approval number, issue date, and transaction amount ready.
Can I get a cash receipt issued without giving my phone number at the store?
You can use a dedicated cash receipt card or a Sontax mobile card. The mobile card works by having its barcode scanned at the store.
Sources
- National Tax Service FAQ: Will I miss out on income deductions during year-end tax settlement if I don't sign up for Hometax?
- National Law Information Center: Article 126-2 of the Restriction of Special Taxation Act, effective September 18, 2026
- National Tax Service: Benefits of issuing and receiving cash receipts
- Korea Policy Briefing: How to make sure you get cash receipts for year-end tax settlement
- National Law Information Center: Article 42 of the Regulations on the Use of Hometax
- National Tax Service Web-TV: Guide to the age requirements for dependent deductions and credit card spending
- National Tax Service: Q&A on the year-end tax settlement simplification service and bulk provision service
- National Tax Service Web-TV: From types of cash receipts to income deductions and how to use Hometax
- National Tax Service FAQ: How do I register a voluntarily issued cash receipt?
- National Tax Service FAQ: How to apply for a replacement or new cash receipt card
- National Tax Service: Sontax mobile cash receipt card
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