SEOUL, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's national tax revenue rose in the first nine months of 2026 due to stronger corporate earnings and increased stock market activity, government data showed Thursday.
The cumulative national tax revenue through September ran to 385.0 trillion won (288.1 billion U.S. dollars), up 95.4 trillion won compared to the same period last year, according to the monthly fiscal trend report by the Ministry of Planning and Budget.
The sharp growth in national tax collections was spearheaded by corporate tax revenue, which expanded 51.9 trillion won on the back of improved corporate performance.
Income tax revenue gained 15.7 trillion won, driven by higher earned income taxes from performance bonuses and rising capital gains taxes from greater real estate transactions.
Securities transaction tax revenue mounted 7.5 trillion won, reflecting higher stock trading values, while special tax for rural development swelled 10.3 trillion won on brisk trading in the main KOSPI market.
Bolstered by robust national tax collections, the cumulative gross revenue through September reached 605.4 trillion won, up 124.6 trillion won from a year earlier.
Gross expenditure climbed 40.7 trillion won to 584.9 trillion won, resulting in the consolidated fiscal surplus of 20.4 trillion won.
The managed fiscal balance, which excludes social security funds, posted a deficit of 32.0 trillion won, narrowing by 70.5 trillion won over the cited period.
The central government's outstanding debt stood at 1,369.4 trillion won at the end of September, down 2.7 trillion won from a month earlier. ■