독일의 가업 상속세 감면제도와 정책적 시사점

The small and medium sized enterprises with the aged management tend to neglect the investment in employment, research, and development to depress company vitality even though they make greater profits than other enterprises. Korean inheritance tax functions as a setback in the development of the company because it is still higher than those of other developed countries. One of 10 family-owned businesses had completed the succession work in Germany for the past five years. The family business succession has rapidly increased step by step to the point that about 70,000 small and medium enterprises proceed succession works per year. The succession has been made smoothly because there is no inheritance tax burden on family businesses. After the inheritance tax reform act took effect in Germany in January, 2009, 85% to 100% of the inheritance tax are deducted according to the management period and the level of employment maintenance after family business succession. When the gross wages for 5 years after family business succession become more than 400% of the gross wages at the time of the commencement of succession and the business has continuously maintained, 85% of inherited business properties are exempted from taxation. Moreover, when the gross wages for 7 years after family business succession become more than 700% of the gross wages at the time of the commencement of succession and the business has continuously maintained, 100% of inherited business properties are exempted from taxation. In case of Korean small and medium enterprises, in particular medium enterprises, the inheritance tax burden on family business is the cause of weakening competitiveness because it is excessive compared with Germany. While there is no inheritance tax burden on German companies keeping the requirement about the running of the company for 7 years, the inheritance tax over 9 times than German tax is imposed in Korea. It is necessary to introduce German inheritance exemption and relief system for family-owned businesses actively and seek the facilitation of family business succession in order to produce the international 'hidden champions' like Germany. It is also needed to implement a plan that the inheritance tax is reduced every year and the total tax amount is exempted in 7 years when the business has maintained for a certain period after business succession. The introduction of the inheritance tax exemption and relief system will accelerate the continuous growth of companies to largely contribute to an increase in tax revenue, job creation, and economic growth. There will a fall in tax revenue at the initial stage that the system is introduced. However, if the growth continues because of the relaxation on inheritance tax burden of companies, the amount of corporation tax payment will increase according to profit generation and tax revenue will consequently increase. There will also be the effect of maintaining jobs because the company must maintain employment to have the tax exemption benefit of business succession. If German inheritance tax exemption and relief system for family-owned businesses is introduced, it is expected that about 130,000 jobs may be maintained.