Lee Hanee Faces 6 Billion KRW Tax Assessment over Alleged Tax Evasion
"Investigation Concluded Without Criminal Inquiry"
Actress Lee Ha-nui has once again denied allegations of tax evasion and embezzlement involving 6 billion KRW.
On the 7th, Lee Ha-nui's agency Team Hope released a statement saying, "Lee Ha-nui has reported income generated from her entertainment activities as corporate revenue to separate business assets or rights and obligations from her personal assets or rights and obligations, and has faithfully paid corporate tax."
They continued, "During the irregular integrated tax investigation of corporate business artists (investigation period of 5 years), even though Lee Ha-nui’s entertainment income was reported as corporate business revenue and corporate tax was fully paid, the tax authority interpreted that such income should not be subject to corporate tax as corporate revenue but should be subject to income tax as personal income. Accordingly, an additional income tax assessment was imposed, and Lee Ha-nui has paid it in full," they explained.
Team Hope stated, "Generally, if a taxpayer is found to have committed fraudulent acts to evade taxes during a tax investigation, the general tax investigation is converted into a tax criminal investigation, which involves a more intensive inquiry," adding, "However, Lee Ha-nui’s investigation was concluded with an income tax assessment without a tax criminal investigation."
Regarding the background of establishing the corporation, they explained, "It was to carry out various activities such as traditional Korean music performances, content development and production, and investment, which cannot be managed or performed by management alongside her main acting career."
Team Hope added, "The income tax assessment resulting from this tax investigation stems from differences in legal interpretation regarding whether the income of artists with corporate business entities should be paid under corporate tax or income tax," and stated, "Lee Ha-nui respected the tax authority’s decision and paid the full amount of tax, which significantly exceeds the highest tax rate under tax law."
They further stated, "The current tax assessment is not yet final, and we plan to appoint a specialized tax law firm to seek legal judgment through legal procedures regarding issues of double taxation and the application of legal interpretations, and to actively provide explanations."
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