본 연구는 조세법상 스폰서십 계약의 법적 성격과 기업의 스폰서십 지출 처리에 대한 세법적 문제를 심도 있게 규명하고자 한다. 스폰서십 계약은 단순히 마케팅 수단에 국한되지 않고, 광고, 기부, 접대비 등 다양한 형태로 해석될 수 있는 복합적인 성격을 가지며, 이에 따라 법적 및 세법적 적용 방식도 달라질 수 있다. 그러나 현행 법제는 스폰서십 계약의 법적 지위와 관련된 명확한 정의를 제공하지 않아, 기업의 스폰서십 지출이 사업 경비로 인정될 수 있는지, 기부금이나 접대비로 분류될지에 대한 세법적 불확실성을 초래하고 있다. 특히, 문화·예술, 스포츠 등 공익적 성격을 가지면서도 사업적 연관성이 혼재된 스폰서십의 경우, 이러한 법적 불확실성은 더욱 심화된다. 본 논문은 스폰서십 계약의 민법적·세법적 정의를 체계적으로 검토하고, 스폰서십 지출의 세법적 분류와 공제 요건을 분석함으로써, 스폰서십이 비전형적 계약으로서 민법 및 세법에서 어떻게 규정되고 처리되는지를 살펴본다. 이를 위해, 주요 판례와 학술적 논의를 바탕으로 스폰서십 계약의 법적 성격과 세법적 처리 문제를 다루고, 사업 경비, 기부금, 접대비로 분류되는 스폰서십 비용이 법인세 감면 요건을 충족하기 위한 기준과 한계를 구체적으로 사례를 통해 분석하였다. 이 과정에서 스폰서십 지출이 사업 경비로 인정되기 위해서는 사업 관련성, 통상성, 수익 관련성 등의 요건을 충족해야 한다는 점을 논의하였으며, 현행 법제에서의 제도적 미비점을 확인하였다.
This study aims to comprehensively examine the legal nature of sponsorship contracts under tax law and address the tax-related issues surrounding corporate sponsorship expenditures. Sponsorship contracts are not merely limited to marketing tools but possess a complex nature that can be interpreted as advertising, donations, or entertainment expenses, depending on their characteristics. This complexity leads to varying legal and tax applications. However, the current legal framework lacks a clear definition of the legal status of sponsorship contracts, creating uncertainties regarding whether corporate sponsorship expenditures can be recognized as business expenses, classified as donations, or treated as entertainment expenses under tax law. Such ambiguities are particularly pronounced in cases of sponsorships in the cultural, artistic, and sports sectors, where public interest and business relevance often coexist. This paper systematically reviews the civil and tax law definitions of sponsorship contracts and analyzes the tax classification and deduction criteria for sponsorship expenditures. It examines how sponsorships, as atypical contracts, are defined and handled within civil and tax law. Drawing on key case law and academic discussions, the study investigates the legal characteristics of sponsorship contracts and their tax implications. Specifically, it analyzes the criteria and limitations for classifying sponsorship expenses as business expenses, donations, or entertainment expenses to qualify for corporate tax deductions. This analysis highlights the requirements of business relevance, customary nature, and profit-relatedness for sponsorship expenditures to be recognized as deductible business expenses, while identifying institutional shortcomings in the current legal framework. The study underscores the necessity of clearly defining the legal status and tax treatment of sponsorship contracts. Establishing clearer tax regulations will enhance tax clarity and fairness while fostering greater corporate engagement in sponsorship activities. To achieve this, the study suggests defining sponsorship contracts as independent taxable items or establishing legal standards that distinctly differentiate sponsorships from donations and other forms of support. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the importance of comparative research on sponsorship contracts and taxation from an international perspective, analyzing tax systems and practices in various jurisdictions to inform improvements in domestic tax law. Finally, this study identifies the need for further research on the tax treatment of sponsorship beneficiaries, including issues related to value-added tax, inheritance tax, and gift tax. Ensuring the legal stability and consistency of tax systems related to sponsorships is critical for fostering a coherent and equitable tax environment. By systematically analyzing the tax-related issues surrounding sponsorship contracts, this study seeks to provide a foundation for more rational and consistent tax treatment of sponsorship expenditures while contributing to the improvement of relevant legal frameworks and policies.