The Korea Herald

지나쌤

[Graphic News] Superrich taxpayers increase in number

By Korea Herald

Published : Dec. 29, 2014 - 22:15

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More than 3,000 people earned financial investment income of 500 million won ($455,290) or more last year, according to the National Tax Service’s annual report.

The individuals earned an average 2.4 billion won, and of this amount, 1.7 billion won or 71 percent comprised interest or dividend income, the data showed.

The total amount of financial income reported to the tax office last year was 28 trillion won. Though the number of superrich only took 2.4 percent of the total list, their financial income was equivalent to 42.2 percent of the reported total.

Since the tax law revision last year, the floor rate for those who are required to report their financial income was lowered to 20 million won from 40 million won. The number of those bound to report therefore increased by 24,877.

Despite the expansion, however, the number of those earning 100 million or more fell by 1.3 percent on-year, reflecting the ongoing trend of low interest rates and slow growth.