香港与韩国签订税务协定

新闻稿 (资料来源:政府新闻处)

财经事务及库务局局长陈家强今日（七月八日）在香港代表香港特别行政区政府与韩国就收入税项避免双重课税及防止逃税签署协定。韩国驻香港总领事赵镛天则代表该国政府签署。

该协定是香港签订的第三十份全面性避免双重课税协定（全面性协定）。在此之前，香港已先后与比利时、泰国、中国内陆、卢森堡、越南、文莱、荷兰、印尼、匈牙利、科威特、奥地利、英国、爱尔兰、列支敦士登、法国、日本、新西兰、葡萄牙、西班牙、捷克共和国、瑞士、马耳他、泽西岛、马来西亚、墨西哥、加拿大、意大利、根西岛及卡塔尔等贸易伙伴签订全面性协定。

陈家强欢迎该全面性协定，并表示协定阐明协定双方的征税权，有助投资者更有效地评估其跨境经济活动的潜在税务负担。

他续说，全面性协定有助推动两地的经济贸易连系，并进一步鼓励韩国和香港公司在彼此地方营商投资。

在没有该协定的情况下，韩国居民在香港所赚取的收入会同时被香港和韩国征收入息税。在该协定下，在香港所缴的税款，可以从韩国所征收的相关税项中抵免。此外，在没有该协定的情况下，香港的公司从韩国设立的常设机构所得的利润，如果源自香港，可能须在两地课税。在该协定下，这些公司在韩国所缴纳的税款，将可以根据香港的税务法例从香港所征收的相关税项中抵免，从而避免双重课税。

在没有该协定的情况下，香港居民若在韩国收取利息收入，须向韩国缴交14%至20%的预扣税。在该协定下，有关预扣税税率将会以10%为上限。韩国向香港居民征收的特许权使用费的预扣税税率会由现时的20%降至以10%为上限。香港居民从韩国收取的股息收入的预扣税税率亦会由现时的20%降至15%或10%（视乎其控股的百分比而定）。

在该协定下，香港的航空公司经营往来韩国的航线，只须就有关利润按香港税率（基本上较韩国的税率为低）缴纳香港利得税，而无须在韩国课税。现时香港居民从韩国就国际航运赚取的利润，须在该国课税。在该协定下，韩国将豁免香港居民该等航运收入的税项。

香港与韩国的全面性协定包含了资料交换条文。

该全面性协定将待双方完成有关的批准程序后开始生效。就香港而言，行政长官会同行政会议须根据《税务条例》就协定作出一项命令，该项命令须经立法会审议通过。

香港将继续致力扩展与贸易及投资伙伴的全面性协定网络。

有关香港与韩国的全面性协定的详情载於税务局网页（www.ird.gov.hk/chi/pdf/Agreement_Korea_HongKong.pdf）。

完

2014年7月8日（星期二）

香港时间14时33分

Hong Kong, Korea tax treaty signed

PRESS RELEASE(Source :Information Services Department)

The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Professor K C Chan, today(July 8) signed in Hong Kong an agreement with Korea for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes onincome on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. The Consul-General of the Republic of Korea in Hong Kong, Mr Cho Yong-chun, signedon behalf of his government.

This is the 30th comprehensive agreement for the avoidance of double taxation (CDTA) that Hong Kong has concluded with its trading partners,coming after those with Belgium, Thailand, the Mainland of China, Luxembourg, Vietnam, Brunei, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Hungary,Kuwait, Austria, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Liechtenstein, France, Japan, NewZealand, Portugal, Spain, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Malta, Jersey,Malaysia, Mexico, Canada, Italy, Guernsey and Qatar.

Welcoming the agreement, Professor Chan said that it sets out clearly the allocation of taxing rights between the two jurisdictions and thus will help investors better assess their potential tax liabilities from cross-border economic activities.

The agreement will bolster the economic and trade connections between the two places, and offer added incentives for companies in Korea to do business or invest in Hong Kong, and vice versa, he added.

In the absence of a CDTA, income earned by Korean residents in Hong Kong is subject to both Hong Kong and Korean income tax. Under the agreement, tax paid in Hong Kong will be allowed as a credit against tax payable in Korea. Furthermore, in theabsence of a CDTA, the profits of Hong Kong companies doing business through apermanent establishment in Korea may be taxed in both places if the income is Hong Kong sourced. Under the agreement, double taxation will be avoided in that any Korean tax paid by the companies will be allowed as a credit against thetax payable in Hong Kong in respect of the income, subject to the provisions of the tax laws of Hong Kong.

In the absence of a CDTA, Hong Kong residents receiving interest from Korea are subject to Korea's withholding tax, which ranges from 14 per cent to 20 percent at present. Under the agreement, such withholding tax will be capped at 10 percent. The Korean withholding tax on royalties, currently at 20 percent,will be capped at 10 percent. The Korean dividends withholding tax on Hong Kong residents will be reduced from the current rate of 20 percent to 15 percent or 10 percent, depending on the percentage of their shareholdings.

Under the CDTA, Hong Kong airlines operating flights to Korea will be taxed at Hong Kong's corporation tax rate (which is in general lower than that of Korea), and will not be taxed in Korea. Profits from international shipping transport earned by Hong Kong residents that arise in Korea, which are currently subject to tax there, will not be taxed in Korea under the agreement.

The Hong Kong/Korea CDTA has incorporated an article on exchange of information.

The CDTA will come into force after the completion of ratification procedures on bothsides. In the case of Hong Kong, an order is required to be made by the Chief Executive in Council under the Inland Revenue Ordinance. The order is subject to negative vetting by the Legislative Council.

Hong Kong will continue its efforts to expand its network of CDTAs with trading and investment partners.

Details of the Hong Kong/Korea CDTA can be found on the Inland Revenue Department's website(www.ird.gov.hk/eng/pdf/Agreement_Korea_HongKong.pdf).

Ends/Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Issued at HKT 14:34