소프트웨어 산업 활성화를 위한 세법개선방안

Despite economic importance of the software industry, most firms in that industry are hardly profitable and competitive in both domestic and foreign markets. Economic analysis in this study shows that the magnitude of tax benefits for the software industry has been relatively low, while those tax benefits could cause substantial economic effects through creating added value and employment. Based on recognition of such economic effects, this study suggests practical plans to revise tax laws to develop the software industry as below. First, the employment tax credit should adopt a baseline tax credit for investment of business assets. Second, the tax credit for cooperation between the small-and-medium sized firms and others should support various business activities such as “joint expansion to overseas markets”. Third, the research and development tax credit should be implemented favorably for labor costs of the software industry. Fourth, the limit of application of the small-and-medium sized firms should be expanded in the software industry. Fifth, enough tax credit should be equipped for spendings for the system security products. Last, expenditures for developing the public goods software, such as open software and SaaS, should be included in the tax credit for productivity improvement facilities.