[연구목적] 수입배당금 익금불산입 제도가 2000년도 적용된 이후 여러 차례 개정을 거쳐 2023년도에는 외국자회사 수입배당금의 익금불산입 규정이 신설되었다. 현행 규정은 수입배당금 익금불산입률을 높여 이중과세를 적극적으로 방지하고 있고, 다만 지주회사의 경우 익금불산입률이 80%가 적용되던 상장회사 지분율 30%미만, 비상장회사 지분율 50% 미만이였는데, 개정후 20% 미만인 경우 익금불산입률이 30%로 축소되어 지분율이 20%미만에 해당하는 지주회사는 오히려 익금불산입률이 80%에서 30%로 축소되어 수입배당금의 이중과세가 확대되었다. 본 연구는 수입배당금 익금불산입 제도의 개정 및 현행 규정에 따른 법인세 부담 완화와 이중과세 방지 효과를 분석하고, 이를 활용한 법인세 절감 전략을 모색하는 것을 목적으로 한다. 특히, 외국자회사 수입배당금 익금불산입 규정의 신설과 그로 인한 세법적 영향을 집중적으로 검토한다. [연구방법] 수입배당금 익금불산입 제도의 역사적 변화와 개정을 중심으로 관련 법률 및 선행 연구를 분석한다. 수입배당금 익금불산입을 활용한 법인세 절감 사례를 가정하고, 일감몰아주기와 일감떼어주기 등을 통한 Tax Plan의 효과에 대하여 분석한다. 선행 연구들은 수입배당금 익금불산입률이 충분하지 않을 경우 법인단계에서의 실효세율이 증가한다는 점을 지적하였고 현행법은 이를 수용한 것으로 판단된다. 그러나 익금불산입률이 높아질 경우 세수 감소, 대기업에 대한 세금 혜택 증가, 세금 회피 가능성 등의 문제가 제기될 수 있다. 그래서 가상의 Tax Plan 사례를 예시로 수입배당금 익금불산입을 활용하여 법인세 부담을 줄이는 몇 가지 시나리오를 제시하였다. [연구결과] 본 가상 사례는 증여세 일감몰아주기와 일감떼어주기를 공격적조세회피를 통해 적용되지 않는 가정 하에 검토하면서 외국자회사에 대한 수입배당금 익금불산입이 더욱 활용 가치가 높음을 알 수 있었다. 그러나 이러한 전략은 세무조사 대상이 되거나 이전가격세제 적용, 시장에서의 공정 경쟁 저해 및 기업 신뢰성 저하 등의 잠재적 위험을 내포하고 있다. 외국자회사의 수입배당금에 대한 익금불산입은 이중과세 방지 및 해외 투자 장려 차원에서 긍정적인 측면이 있고, 특정외국법인의 유보소득 익금산입 규정에 의하여 해외 투자 자금이 수입배당금으로 국내로 다시 유입될 것이라 예상하여 단순히 대기업 등에 대한 부자감세로 비판하는 것은 잘못 되었다고 생각한다. 아울러 외국자회사 수입배당금 익금불산입은 지분율이 10%(해외자원개발사업을 하는 외국법인은 5%)이상인 경우 수입배당금의 95%를 익금불산입을 하더라도 익금산입 된 5%에 대한 수입배당금은 법인세법 제57조 제4항에 따라 외국자회사로부터 수입배당금이 있는 경우 간접외국납부세액 공제방식을 그대로 적용하여 외국납부세액공제가 가능하다. [연구의 시사점] 수입배당금 익금불산입 제도는 단순히 이중과세를 조정하는 기능을 넘어 법인이 장기적인 관점으로 활용 가치가 높은 제도이다. 단기적인 세금 절감과 이익 이전에 중점을 두기보다는 장기적인 관점에서 회사의 재무적 건전성과 지속 가능한 성장을 고려하고, 가업승계 증여세 과세특례제도 등을 활용하면 효과적인 절세전략을 세울수 있을 것이다.
[Purpose] Since the system for excluding income dividends from being included in gross income was applied in 2000, it has been revised several times and a new rule for excluding income dividends from foreign subsidiaries from being included in gross income was established in 2023. The current regulations actively prevent double taxation by increasing the rate of non-inclusion of dividends in gross profits. However, in the case of holding companies, the non-inclusion rate in gross profits of 80% was applied for listed companies with less than 30% shareholding and unlisted companies with less than 50% shareholding. After the revision, the non-inclusion rate in gross income was reduced to 30% in cases where the shareholding ratio was less than 20%, and the non-inclusion rate in gross income for holding companies with a shareholding ratio of less than 20% was reduced from 80% to 30%, increasing the double taxation of income dividends. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of reducing the corporate tax burden and preventing double taxation according to the revision of the system for excluding income dividends from gross income and the current regulations, and to explore corporate tax reduction strategies using this. In particular, we will focus on examining the new rule on non-inclusion of dividends earned by foreign subsidiaries in profits and the resulting tax implications. [Methodology] This study analyzes related laws and previous studies, focusing on historical changes and revisions in the system for excluding income dividends from gross income. Assuming a case of corporate tax reduction using non-inclusion of income dividends as profits, analyze the effects of the tax plan through “Deeming profits to have been donated through transactions with specially related corporations” and “Deeming profits accruing from business opportunities provided by specially related corporations to have been donated”. Previous studies have pointed out that the effective tax rate at the corporate level increases if the non-inclusion rate of income dividends is insufficient, and the current law is believed to have accepted this. However, if the rate of non-inclusion of gross income increases, problems such as reduced tax revenue, increased tax benefits for large corporations, and the possibility of tax avoidance may be raised. Therefore, using a hypothetical tax plan as an example, we presented several scenarios to reduce the corporate tax burden by utilizing the non-inclusion of dividends and profits. [Findings] In this hypothetical case, while examining the assumption that “Deeming profits to have been donated through transactions with specially related corporations” and “Deeming profits accruing from business opportunities provided by specially related corporations to have been donated” are not applied through aggressive tax avoidance, it was found that the exclusion of income dividends from foreign subsidiaries as profits is more valuable. However, this strategy involves potential risks such as being subject to tax investigation, application of transfer pricing tax, impeding fair competition in the market, and lowering corporate credibility. Non-inclusion of profits from income dividends of foreign subsidiaries has a positive aspect in terms of preventing double taxation and encouraging overseas investment, and it is expected that overseas investment funds will be flowed back into Korea as specific foreign corporations’ retained earnings deemed dividends. Therefore, I think it is wrong to simply criticize large corporations as a tax cut for the wealthy. In addition, even if 95% of income dividends are excluded from gross income if the shareholding ratio of a foreign subsidiary is more than 10% (5% for foreign corporations engaged in overseas resource development projects), the income dividend for the 5% included in gross income is subject to the corporate tax law. Pursuant to Article 57, Paragraph 4, if there is an income dividend from a foreign subsidiary, a foreign tax credit is possible by applying the indirect foreign tax deduction method. [Implications] The system of non-inclusion of income and dividends in profits goes beyond simply adjusting double taxation and is a system that is highly valuable for corporations to utilize from a long-term perspective. Rather than focusing on short-term tax reduction and profit transfer, an effective tax-saving strategy can be established by considering the company’s financial soundness and sustainable growth from a long-term perspective and utilizing the special taxation system for family business succession and gift tax.