S. Korea begins tax probe on foreigners who own multiple homes

All News 12:00 August 03, 2020

SEJONG, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's tax authorities said Monday they have launched a tax probe against 42 foreigners who own multiple homes in the nation, amid efforts to curb housing prices in Seoul and its neighboring areas.

According to the National Tax Service (NTS), a 40-something U.S. citizen had purchased 42 homes for 6.7 billion won (US$5.6 million) in total since 2018 in South Korea.

The U.S. citizen rented out the homes to collect money but underreported the rental income to evade income taxes, the NTS said.

In another unlawful case, a Chinese national, who has a student visa, bought eight homes in South Korea but failed to report rental incomes to tax authorities, the NTS said.

Between 2017 and May this year, 1,036 foreigners purchased more than two homes in South Korea, the NTS said.

Of the 23,167 homes purchased by foreigners during the period, 32.7 percent were not occupied by owners, the NTS said.

The NTS said the reason foreigners owning multiple homes in South Korea do not live there may be due to "speculative demand."

Despite the government's multiple announcements on new property market policies, real estate prices, in particular apartments, have continued to soar, driven by ultra-low interest rates and excess liquidity.

President Moon Jae-in has said he will use all available measures in the fight against property speculation and soaring housing prices, especially around the greater Seoul area.