순부유세 도입 시 문제점에 관한 연구 = The Study on the Introduction of the Net Wealth Tax in Korea

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The net wealth tax has been levied in OECD countries in Europe for a long time. As of 2012, six countries including France, Iceland, Spain, Switzerland, Norway and Luxembourg have the net wealth tax. In the case of these OECD countries in Europe, the net wealth tax is levied annually on the asset value of properties and other assets net of liabilities to individuals or households. Proponents of the net wealth tax in Korea argue that providing welfare with revenues on the net wealth tax will reduce income inequality and increase tax fairness. However, the OECD countries that introduced the net wealth tax report high costs of tax collection and tax compliance in contrast to the low tax revenues. In some countries, there was greater inequality and lower economic growth during the period when net wealth tax was levied (Hansson 2002; Klevmarken 2004; Jaantti 2004; Hansson 2005; Duran-Cabre and Esteller Moree 2011). Thus, the effect of the net wealth tax in Korea is highly uncertain. The legal issues are as follows. First, without full preparation of a fair and accurate valuation method, taxes on unrealized gains can be determined unconstitutional. Second, net wealth tax on households or married couples can be determined unconstitutional. Third, different tax rates on assets with the same property value can be in violation of the principle of tax equality. Fourth, there are issues of double taxation in addition to property tax, capital gain tax, and comprehensive real estate holding tax. Due to the problems discussed above, introduction of the net wealth tax requires careful judgment. Thus, for the purpose of reducing inequality, we recommend improving problems in the current capital gains tax rather than imposing the net wealth tax on unrealized gains.