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국세청은 이수영 OCI 회장 부부 등 조세피난처에 페이퍼컴퍼니를 세운 것으로 나타난 재벌가 등을 상대로 위법 여부에 대한 정밀 검증을 거쳐 탈세 혐의가 있으면 강도높은 세무조사를 벌이기로 했다.
김덕중 국세청장은 23일 이 회장 부부를 포함해 한국인 245명이 조세피난처에 페이퍼컴퍼니를 세운 것으로 알려진데 대해 "내용을 분석해 탈세 혐의가 있으면 원칙적으로 처리하겠다"고 말했다.
그는 이날 수송동 청사로 출근하는 길에 연합뉴스 기자와 만난 자리에서 "아직은 어제 발표된 사람들이 혐의가 있는지 없는지 모르므로 어떻게 하겠다고 미리 얘기하기는 이르다"고 전제하면서 이같이 밝혔다.
인터넷 언론인 뉴스타파가 전날 공개한 페이퍼컴퍼니 설립자와 기업을 상대로 해외 계좌 개설 여부, 계좌의 성격, 사용 내역 등 확보 가능한 자료에 대한 정밀 검 토를 통해 탈세 혐의가 있을 경우 강력하게 대응하겠다는 의지를 밝힌 것으로 해석된다.
김 청장은 "역외탈세는 올해 국세청의 4대 중점과제의 하나이므로 역점을 두고 추진해야 할 과제"라며 "이런 점을 살려서 하겠다"고 설명했다.
김 청장은 취임 이후 새 정부 국정과제인 '지하경제 양성화'를 강력하게 추진하기로 하고 대재산가, 고소득자영업자, 민생침해, 역외탈세 등 4개 분야를 중점 과제로 선정해 강도높은 세무조사를 벌이기로 했다.
이를 위해 지난 2월 지방국세청 조사국에 세무조사 전문인력 400여명을 증원하고 조사팀 70여개를 보강한데 이어 3월에는 지방청의 조사국 직원 1천400여명에게 금융조사와 역외탈세 분야의 첨단 조사기법에 집중 교육을 실시했다.
국세청은 뉴스타파가 공개한 명단에 대한 조사와는 별도로 미국, 영국, 호주 등 역외탈세를 상당량 확보한 국가와의 정보 공유를 통해 한국인 역외탈세 관련 자료 입수도 조만간 가능할 것으로 보고 조사에 박차를 가할 방침이다.
아울러 조세조약 체결국(80개국) 및 조세정보교환협정 체결국(2개국)과의 정보 교환 활성화를 통해 역외탈세 혐의자 추적에 힘을 쏟는 한편 조세조약 및 조세정보 교환협정 체결국을 확대하는데도 힘을 쏟을 계획이다.
앞서 뉴스타파는 이 회장 부부와 조중건 전 대한항공 부회장의 부인 이영학씨, 그리고 조욱래 DSDL(옛 동성개발) 회장과 장남 조현강씨를 포함한 한국인 2 45명이 조세피난처에 페이퍼컴퍼니 설립자로 확인됐다고 발표했다.
<관련 영문 기사>
Tax office gears up for probe into offshore accounts
By Park Hyong-ki and Chung Joo-won
Korean tax authorities are gearing up for a full-scale probe into those holding offshore accounts via paper companies created in tax havens exposed by non-profit news organizations.
Investigations into the accounts held by notable family members connected to family-run conglomerates such as Korean Air, OCI and Hyosung will likely begin by uncovering the truth and purpose behind establishing such shell companies.
It is too early to tell whether they are illegitimate as not all companies or management trusts are set up in havens to evade taxes. However, those who fail to report to the government of their overseas assets will be subjected to prosecution.
The National Tax Service said it will examine the feasibility of the data disclosed by the independent news organizations.
The Korea Center for Investigative Journalism, or KCIJ, in collaboration with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, only unveiled the number of Koreans -- 245 -- who held tax haven accounts via ghost companies, but not the characteristics of their operations.
OCI admitted that its chairman did have a personal tax haven account, but no longer as he transferred the funds to his U.S. account, while Korean Air and Hyosung said their owners’ relatives who were found to operate paper companies have nothing to do with their businesses.
It will counter any suspicions by the book, the tax agency said.
“We know for sure that Koreans have accounts in the British Virgin Islands,” said an NTS official. “The agency will look into the matter according to principles.”
This comes after NTS Commissioner Kim Duk-joong said early that the tax agency will analyze the list of Koreans with tax haven operations and deal with any suspicions by the rules.
The commissioner previously mentioned that uncovering those who may have stashed money in offshore accounts hidden from the government is one of its top priorities along with normalizing the underground economy during the administration of President Park Geun-hye.
A group of civic organizations also held a rally in front of the NTS’ headquarters in the day to call on tax authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into holders of secret offshore accounts in tax havens and punish those who are found to be tax evaders.
The country’s efforts to bring tax dodgers to justice are expected to gain momentum on the back of support from civic groups and political circles urging for fairness and transparency.
Also, global economies are seeking to combat and curb tax evasion with British Prime Minister David Cameron, the chair of the next G8 summit in June, calling for “order” in tax havens.
This will be on the top of the G8 agenda as taxation would be one of last resorts to sustain government spending amid the global slowdown, while facing limits to boosting export growth through currency debasement.
On Wednesday, the KCIJ, also known as Newstapa, and ICIJ announced the first batch of Korean names who owned offshore accounts in tax havens, adding that most of the 245 Koreans are believed to be well-known corporate executives and chaebol. The list included politicians as well, they claimed.
(hkp@heraldcorp.com) (joowonc@heraldcorp.com)
Tax office gears up for probe into offshore accounts
By Park Hyong-ki and Chung Joo-won
Korean tax authorities are gearing up for a full-scale probe into those holding offshore accounts via paper companies created in tax havens exposed by non-profit news organizations.
Investigations into the accounts held by notable family members connected to family-run conglomerates such as Korean Air, OCI and Hyosung will likely begin by uncovering the truth and purpose behind establishing such shell companies.
It is too early to tell whether they are illegitimate as not all companies or management trusts are set up in havens to evade taxes. However, those who fail to report to the government of their overseas assets will be subjected to prosecution.
The National Tax Service said it will examine the feasibility of the data disclosed by the independent news organizations.
The Korea Center for Investigative Journalism, or KCIJ, in collaboration with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, only unveiled the number of Koreans -- 245 -- who held tax haven accounts via ghost companies, but not the characteristics of their operations.
OCI admitted that its chairman did have a personal tax haven account, but no longer as he transferred the funds to his U.S. account, while Korean Air and Hyosung said their owners’ relatives who were found to operate paper companies have nothing to do with their businesses.
It will counter any suspicions by the book, the tax agency said.
“We know for sure that Koreans have accounts in the British Virgin Islands,” said an NTS official. “The agency will look into the matter according to principles.”
This comes after NTS Commissioner Kim Duk-joong said early that the tax agency will analyze the list of Koreans with tax haven operations and deal with any suspicions by the rules.
The commissioner previously mentioned that uncovering those who may have stashed money in offshore accounts hidden from the government is one of its top priorities along with normalizing the underground economy during the administration of President Park Geun-hye.
A group of civic organizations also held a rally in front of the NTS’ headquarters in the day to call on tax authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into holders of secret offshore accounts in tax havens and punish those who are found to be tax evaders.
The country’s efforts to bring tax dodgers to justice are expected to gain momentum on the back of support from civic groups and political circles urging for fairness and transparency.
Also, global economies are seeking to combat and curb tax evasion with British Prime Minister David Cameron, the chair of the next G8 summit in June, calling for “order” in tax havens.
This will be on the top of the G8 agenda as taxation would be one of last resorts to sustain government spending amid the global slowdown, while facing limits to boosting export growth through currency debasement.
On Wednesday, the KCIJ, also known as Newstapa, and ICIJ announced the first batch of Korean names who owned offshore accounts in tax havens, adding that most of the 245 Koreans are believed to be well-known corporate executives and chaebol. The list included politicians as well, they claimed.
(hkp@heraldcorp.com) (joowonc@heraldcorp.com)
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