Guide to Korea’s Joint Certificate System for e-tax invoice Compliance
If you are running a business in South Korea, you’ve likely encountered the term Joint Certificate (공동인증서).
Unlike simple email-based authentication common in many Western markets, Korea utilizes a robust, government-accredited digital signature system.
Think of it as your digital corporate seal—it is legally binding and mandatory for secure financial transactions, especially when dealing with the National Tax Service (NTS).
Where to Obtain Your Joint Certificate in Korea
You cannot simply download a valid business certificate from any website.
In Korea, you must apply through one of the Accredited Certification Authorities (CA) or their designated agents, which are primarily commercial banks.
Major Accredited Agencies
The following organizations are the official issuers of legally binding digital certificates in Korea:
Korea Financial Telecommunications & Clearings Institute (KFTC): Known for the 'YesSign' service.
Korea Information Certificate (KICA): The first and largest CA in South Korea.
Korea Electronic Certification Authority (CrossCert): Provides diverse domestic and global certification services.
Koscom (SignKorea): Specializes in certificates for financial services and stock trading.
TradeSign (Korea Trade Network): Focused on trade and EDI-related certification.
For most global businesses, the most efficient route is to visit a commercial bank (such as Shinhan, Hana, or KB) where your corporate account is held.
The bank acts as a registration agent to verify your identity.
Choosing the Right Certificate for Your e-tax invoice
Not every Joint Certificate allows you to issue a tax-invoice.
You must choose the correct type based on your operational needs.
1. Specialized Certificate for e-tax invoice
Best For: Businesses focused strictly on tax duties.
Pros: Highly affordable (approx. 4,400 KRW/year).
Cons: Limited to e-tax invoice tasks on NTS Hometax or Bolta.
2. Universal Joint Certificate (General Purpose)
Best For: Companies needing one key for banking, bidding, and tax.
Pros: High versatility across all platforms.
Cons: Higher annual fee (approx. 110,000 KRW/year).
The Pain Point: Repetitive Authentication on Hometax
While the Joint Certificate is essential for security, the official government portal (Hometax) makes using it incredibly cumbersome.
On Hometax, you are often forced into a "Double-Lock" cycle:
First Authentication: Required just to log in.
Second Authentication: Required again at the final step to sign and issue the tax-invoice.
For companies managing multiple transactions, this manual, repetitive process is a major drain on resources and increases the risk of missing the critical write date deadlines.
How Bolta Revolutionizes Your Tax Workflow
Bolta is designed to eliminate the friction of the Korean tax system while keeping you 100% compliant.
Register Once, Issue Forever
Unlike Hometax, Bolta allows you to register your Joint Certificate just once.
Our secure SaaS infrastructure remembers your credentials, allowing you to issue and manage every e-tax invoice without ever needing to perform manual digital signatures again.
Ensuring 'Write Date' Accuracy
In Korea, the write date (the actual date of transaction) must be recorded accurately to avoid heavy penalties.
Because Bolta removes the "authentication hurdle," your team can issue invoices instantly, ensuring that the write date is always compliant and submitted before the 10th-of-the-month deadline.
Conclusion: Compliance Without the Hassle
Navigating Korea’s Joint Certificate requirements doesn't have to be a manual nightmare.
By choosing the right certificate and integrating it with Bolta, you can secure your "digital corporate seal" and automate your entire tax workflow.
Focus on your business growth, and let Bolta handle the complexities of Korean tax compliance.