Korean Tax Laws on Entertainment Companies in Korea: Overseas Tax Deductions

Korean Tax Laws have been amended to tighten rules on exemptions for foreign and domestic companies and individuals.  I have reported on a number of this changes in this blog.

One change that is having an impact on Entertainment Companies is the reduction in exemptions for companies selling movies and games overseas.  Additional information on this topic can be found at: The Korean Entertainment Law Blog.

Before the amendment to this Tax Law, The Korean National Tax Service allowed Korean companies that sold movies or games overseas – tax exemptions on the taxes they paid to government overseas.

However, the Korean government no longer grants such benefits; they only allow tax exemptions of 20% – 30% of the taxes that paid overseas.

Korea exported entertainment contents worth over 5 trillion won last year.  The Korean Entertainment Industry is crying foul and we, likely, we see more aggressive lobbying by the industry this year.  The Industry is, rightfully, concerned that this situation is decreasing the competitive advantage of the Korean Entertainment Industry.

Other articles on Korean Tax Law that may be of interest:

• Foreign Tax Incentives to be Cut: 17% Flat Tax Revised
• Special 20% Consumption Tax for Designer Bags Bought in Korea Suspended until 2014
• Amendments to Corporate Tax Rates in Korea for 2012: Korea Corporate Tax Rates in Korea
• Tax Qualified Mergers in Korea: Amended 80% Rule for Triangle Mergers

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Sean Hayes may be contacted at: [email protected]

Sean Hayes is co-chair of the Korea Practice Team at IPG Legal. He is the first non-Korean attorney to have worked for the Korean court system (Constitutional Court of Korea) and one of the first non-Koreans to be a regular member of a Korean law faculty. He is ranked, for Korea, as one of only two non-Korean attorneys as a Top Attorney by AsiaLaw.