Korea to scrap capital gains tax on financial investments 한국, 금융투자 소득세 폐지

[김우정]

어제 최상목 부총리겸 기획재정부장관은 세제개편안을 발표했습니다.
주요변경사항은 금융투자세 폐지, 상속세 최고세율 50%에서 40%로 인하, R&D투자세애공제확대 등입니다.
그동안 논란의 초점이 되었던 종합부동산세에 대해서는 언급이 없었습니다.
이러한 세제개편안이 국회에서 통과될지, 어떻게 조정될지 지켜봐야겠습니다.
 
Korea to scrap disputed capital gains tax on financial investments
한국, 금융투자소득세 폐지

By Yi Whan-woo 이환우 기자
Posted : 2024-07-25 17:02 Updated : 2024-07-25 22:11
Korea Times

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok, right, speaks during a press briefing on tax code revisions at Government Complex Sejong, Monday. Yonhap 최상목 부총리 겸 기획재정부 장관(오른쪽)이 월요일 정부 세종청사에서 열린 세법개정 관련 언론 브리핑에서 발언하고 있다. 연합

Inheritance tax cap to be lowered to 40%
상속세 상한액 40%로 인하

The government has decided to cancel the proposed capital gains tax on financial investments after years of debates over concerns that the tax could harm the capital market and disadvantage small investors.
정부는 금융투자에 대한 양도소득세가 자본시장을 해치고 소액 투자자들에게 불이익을 줄 수 있다는 우려로 수년간의 논쟁 끝에 이를 취소하기로 결정했다.

Additionally, it will reduce the top rate of inheritance tax from 50 percent to 40 percent as part of a measured effort to reform the taxation system.
또 과세체계 개편을 위한 대책으로 상속세 최고세율을 50%에서 40%로 인하한다.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance announced these measures, Thursday, as part of the annual tax system revision proposals aimed at lowering the tax burden on businesses, investors and households in line with changes in the economic environment.
기획재정부는 목요일 경제 환경의 변화에 따라 기업, 투자자 및 가계의 세부담을 낮추기 위한 연례 조세제도 개정 건의의 일환으로 이러한 조치를 발표했다.

“The government is committed to establishing an efficient and rational taxation system through this year’s tax reform,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok said during a press briefing.
최상목 부총리 겸 기획재정부 장관은 이날 언론 브리핑에서 "정부는 올해 세제개편을 통해 효율적이고 합리적인 과세체계를 구축하는 데 전념하고 있다"고 밝혔다.

He emphasized that tax reform is essential because, despite being on the path to recovery, the Korean economy continues to face challenges such as declining living standards and structural risks including demographic issues and reduced growth potential.
그는 한국 경제가 회복의 길을 가고 있음에도 불구하고 인구문제와 성장 잠재력 감소를 포함한 구조적 위험과 생활 수준 저하 등의 도전에 직면해 있기 때문에 세제개혁이 필요하다고 강조했다.

“In that regard, the government will overhaul old and outdated policies to reflect the changes visible in the economic conditions, while upholding its principle of fiscal soundness,” Choi added.
최 부총리는 "그런 점에서 정부는 재정건전성의 원칙을 지키면서 경제 상황에서 보이는 변화를 반영하기 위해 낡고 낡은 정책들을 정비할 것"이라고 덧붙였다.

One of the key revision proposals is the scrapping of the financial investment income tax, which was originally set to go into effect in 2023, but has been postponed to 2025.
당초 2023년 시행을 앞두고 있었으나 2025년으로 연기된 금융투자소득세 폐지가 핵심 개정안 중 하나다.

It focuses on a handful of wealthy investors, who earn a net income of at least 50 million won per year from investments in stocks and exchange-traded funds, or at least 2.5 million won per year from other financial instruments.
주식과 상장지수펀드 투자로 연간 최소 5천만원, 또는 다른 금융상품으로 연간 최소 250만원의 순이익을 올리는 소수의 부유층 투자자들에 초점을 맞추고 있다.

However, it drew a backlash from a larger pool of small investors, estimated to be 14 million in number. They argued that wealthy investors — to avoid taxes — will unload their shares and exit the stock market. Such a departure, according to small investors, will have a negative ripple effect on the market and inflict losses on them.
그러나, 이는 수적으로 1,400만 명으로 추정되는 대규모의 소규모 투자자 집단으로부터 반발을 샀다. 그들은 부유한 투자자들은, 세금을 피하기 위해, 주식을 처분하고 주식시장에서 나갈 것이라고 주장했다. 소규모 투자자들에 따르면, 그러한 이탈은 시장에 부정적인 파급 효과를 미치고 그들에게 손실을 입힐 것이다.

Amid such opposition, President Yoon Suk Yeol has pledged to abolish the financial investment income tax. Several opposition party members, including former Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung, have advocated for an additional delay in implementing these tax changes.
이런 반대 속에 윤석열 대통령은 금융투자소득세 폐지를 공약으로 내걸었다. 이재명 전 더불어민주당 대표를 비롯한 몇몇 야당 의원들은 이런 세제 변화의 시행을 추가로 연기해야 한다고 주장했다.

Another significant change will involve reducing the maximum inheritance tax rate from 50 percent to 40 percent.
또 다른 중요한 변화는 상속세 최고세율을 50%에서 40%로 낮추는 것이다.

The maximum rate, which stands as the second highest in the OECD after Japan's 55 percent, has drawn criticism for potentially obstructing the succession of not just large conglomerates (chaebols) but also smaller family-owned businesses, impeding their ability to continue operations after paying the hefty tax.
일본의 55%에 이어 OECD에서 두 번째로 높은 최고세율은 대기업(재벌)뿐만 아니라 가족 소유의 소규모 기업들의 경영권 승계를 잠재적으로 방해해 무거운 세금을 내고도 영업을 계속할 수 없게 만들었다는 비판을 받고 있다.

Over the past 25 years, the inheritance tax policy has faced criticism for failing to accurately account for the wealth accumulation of the middle class over time, resulting in an undue tax burden on them.
지난 25년간 상속세 정책은 시간이 지남에 따라 중산층의 부의 축적을 정확하게 설명하지 못하여 이들에게 과도한 조세 부담을 초래한다는 비판에 직면해 왔다.

In light of these concerns, the exemption for inheritance per child will increase to 500 million won from the current 50 million won.
이 같은 우려에 따라 자녀 1인당 상속분 면제액은 현행 5,000만원에서 5억원으로 늘어난다.

To enhance the competitiveness of advanced and strategic technologies, the government will also expand tax credits on related R&D activities.
첨단기술과 전략기술의 경쟁력 제고를 위해 관련 R&D 활동에 대한 세액공제도 확대한다.

Additionally, tax credits for various technologies will be extended until 2027.
또한 다양한 기술에 대한 세액공제도 2027년까지 연장된다.

To urge more Korean companies to bring their manufacturing plants back home, the government will extend tax breaks to 2027 as it is currently set to expire in 2024.
더 많은 한국기업들이 그들의 제조공장들을 본국으로 가져오도록 촉구하기 위해, 정부는 현재 2024년에 만료될 예정이므로 세금 감면을 2027년까지 연장할 것이다.

The targeted companies will receive a full exemption on both personal income taxes and corporate taxes for the first seven years upon their return and a 50 percent reduction in the following three years.
대상 기업들은 복귀 후 첫 7년간은 개인소득세와 법인세를 모두 전액 면제받고 이후 3년간은 50% 감면받는다.

To enhance investor protection measures, the implementation of a 20 percent tax on all crypto gains will be delayed for an additional two years to 2027. Originally planned for 2023, the measure was first postponed to 2025.
투자자 보호 조치를 강화하기 위해 모든 암호 이익에 대해 20% 세율 적용을 2027년으로 2년 더 연기한다. 당초 2023년으로 계획된 이 조치는 2025년으로 먼저 연기되었다.

In a bid to encourage marriage and tackle the world’s lowest birthrate, 1 million won will be given as a tax credit for newlyweds. The benefit will be offered only once in their lifetime considering that the divorce rate is high in Korea.
결혼 장려와 세계 최저 출산율 극복을 위해 신혼부부 세액공제로 100만원이 주어진다. 이혼율이 높은 우리나라를 고려해 평생 한 번만 혜택이 주어진다.

Meanwhile, the so-called comprehensive real estate holding tax remained untouched by the government in this year’s tax reform, despite growing demands from taxpayers for an overhaul.
한편, 이른바 종부세는 납세자들의 개편 요구가 커지고 있음에도 불구하고 올해 세제개편에서 정부의 손이 닿지 않은 상태였다.


It is an additional tax burden imposed on owners of expensive houses and those who possess multiple homes. Whether it serves its goal as a punitive measure against real estate speculation, however, is doubtful as housing prices have surged and the middle class is increasingly subject to more taxation.
고가주택 보유자와 다주택자에게 추가로 부과하는 세금 부담이다. 그러나 집값이 급등하고 중산층의 과세 대상이 늘어나면서 부동산 투기에 대한 응징책으로 그 취지를 살릴 수 있을지 의문이다.

The finance minister deemed this year’s tax system revisions will result in a 4.4 trillion won decrease in tax income for the next five years, after the government suffered a record tax revenue shortfall in 2023.
기재부 장관은 2023년 정부가 사상 최대 세수 부족을 겪은 이후 올해 세제 개정으로 향후 5년간 4조4,000억원의 세수 감소 효과가 발생할 것으로 봤다.

Nevertheless, he assured of “positive outcomes from investment- and spending-oriented policies, which in turn, will help improve conditions concerning tax revenues.”
그럼에도 불구하고 그는 "투자와 지출 중심의 정책이 긍정적인 결과를 낳고, 이는 다시 세수와 관련된 여건을 개선하는 데 도움이 될 것."이라고 장담했다

The government plans to submit the proposals to the National Assembly for approval before Sept. 2, after drafting guidelines and seeking a separate approval at a Cabinet meeting.
정부는 지침 초안을 작성해 국무회의에서 별도의 승인을 구한 뒤 9월 2일 이전에 국회에 제출해 승인을 받을 계획이다.

#capitalgainstax양도소득세 #financialinvestments금융투자 #inheritancetax상속세 #taxreform세제개편 #taxburden세부담 #smallinvestors소액투자자 #R&Dtaxcredits연구개발세액공제 #cryptogainstax가상자산소득세 #newlywedstaxcredit신혼부부세액공제 #comprehensiverealestateholdingtax종합부동산세