Korea enacts 2023 tax reform bill

Executive summary

On 31 December 2022, Korea enacted the 2023 Tax Reform Bill (the 2023 Tax Reform) after it was passed by Korea’s National Assembly on 23 December 2022. Unless otherwise specified, the 2023 Tax Reform will generally become effective for fiscal years beginning on or after 1 January 2023. The Enforcement Decrees, which provide more specific guidance on the laws, are expected to be enacted in early 2023.

This Alert summarizes the key features of the new and amended tax laws.

Detailed discussion

Changes in the Corporate Income Tax (CIT) Rate

The 2023 Tax Reform introduced a one percentage point cut in each of the four CIT brackets as below. As a result, the corporate rates will be reduced from 10%, 20%, 22%, and 25%, to 9%, 19%, 21%, and 24%, effective for fiscal years beginning on or after 1 January 2023.

The following taxable summarizes the previous and enacted rates:

Expansion of annual deductibility limit for net operating losses (NOLs)

The 2023 Tax Reform expands the annual deductibility limit for NOLs from 60% to 80% of taxable income for domestic corporations. The deductibility limits for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) remain the same.1

Limits the scope of accumulated earnings tax application

The 2023 Tax Reform limits the scope of the application to corporations that are members of an enterprise group with restrictions on cross-shareholding by excluding large corporations whose net equity exceeds KRW50 billion (approx. US$40m).

In addition, the 2023 Tax Reform extends the accumulated earnings tax until 31 December 2025 after the expiration of the sunset clause on 31 December 2022.

Changes in securities transaction tax rate

The 2023 Tax Reform adjusts the timing of reducing securities transaction tax rates on securities traded on Korea’s stock exchange to revitalize the capital market.

The following table summarizes the proposed changes:

However, the current tax rules remain to be applied to securities transaction tax rates for KONEX and others (e.g., securities traded over the counter, non-listed securities traded).

Extension of the application period for special taxation for foreign workers

Under the current Restriction of Special Taxation Act, a foreign worker who starts to work in Korea before 31 December 2023, may elect to have the 19% flat tax rate (20.9% including local income tax) applied for five consecutive tax years, without deductions.3

The 2023 Tax Reform extends the application period from 5 years to 20 years from the start date of domestic services.

Deferral of taxation on virtual assets4

Under the current Korean tax law, gains derived from the disposal of virtual assets by a foreign individual or foreign corporation are categorized as “other income” subject to withholding tax at the lesser of 11% of the transfer price or 22% of the net capital gains.

The 2023 Tax Reform provides the deferral of taxation on virtual assets from 1 January 2023 to 1 January 2025.

Revival of tax relief on bonds

The 2023 Tax Reform reintroduces the tax exemption on interest and capital gains earned from transactions related to government bonds and monetary stabilization bonds by foreign individuals and corporate investors. This relief is available for both direct investments and indirect investments through qualified foreign financial institutions.

The above rule will be applied to interest payments or relevant bonds sold on or after 1 January 2023.

Introduction of special tax treatment on foreign flow-through entities

To prevent Korean investors from facing adverse tax implications arising from investments made through reverse hybrid entities, the 2023 Tax Reform introduces a special tax regime whereby a foreign entity treated as a foreign flow-through entity for Korean tax purposes may also be treated as a flow-through entity for Korean tax purposes to eliminate the hybrid mismatch between two countries. This application can be elected by filing a statutory application with the Korean tax authorities by Korean investors.

For additional information with respect to this Alert, please contact the following:

Ernst & Young Han Young, Seoul

• Kyung Tae Ko                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
• Jeong Hun You

Ernst & Young LLP (United States), Korean Tax Desk, New York

• Young Ju Song

Ernst & Young LLP (United States), Asia Pacific Business Group, New York

• Gagan Malik                                                                                                                                                                                                
• Dhara Sampat

Ernst & Young LLP (United States), Asia Pacific Business Group, Chicago

• Pongpat Kitsanayothin

For a full listing of contacts and email addresses, please click on the Tax News Update: Global Edition (GTNU) version of this Alert.