A Legal analysis of IP transactions under the income tax system

交易標的物，可分為物、勞務、權利。在過去，智慧財產等權利的價值，往往透過物或勞務之交易才能間接地展現。如今在智慧財產日益重要之知識經濟中，以智慧財產直接作為交易標的物的商業模式，愈趨頻繁。此一直接智財交易之相關會計及租稅問題，值得進行體系化研究。本研究旨在分析直接智財交易可能產生的營利事業所得稅問題。本研究將直接智財交易分為權利買賣讓與（所有權移轉）、權利的融資擔保（價值權）及權利的使用收益(用益權)，針對各項爭點，分析問題形成的原因及可能造成的影響，並提出解決之道。 本研究分析後發現，目前稅法體系僅能掌握間接智財交易，因此未來修法時應將直接智財交易明文納入所得稅法體系之中。其次，智財交易多為跨國交易，但因與台灣訂有租稅協定的國家為數不多，為避免重複課稅，本研究建議對於來源地認定，應採取「經濟關聯」的認定標準。再者，針對著作權設質融資，由於著作權欠缺公示制度，本研究認為可能造成誤將讓與擔保當成買賣讓與而不公平地課徵所得稅，因此建議將讓與擔保分別處理。最後，對於智財作價入股之課稅時點，本研究認為，應依新創事業創立與為犒賞員工之目的分別處理，並依本研究所提出之指標個案認定。Objects of transactions can be tangible property, labor service, and rights. Intellectual property (IP) as right used to manifest its value most indirectly through transactions of tangible property and labor service. In a knowledge-based economy where IP becomes more important than ever before, business models based on direct transactions of IP have gained more popularity. As a result, a systematic research on accounting and taxation issues of IP transactions is urgent. This study aims to examine corporate income tax issues related to sales, collateral-based financing, and usufructs in direct IP transactions. After analyzing potential controversies and their causes and effects, the study proposes some feasible solutions to such disputes. The analysis shows that the existing income tax system does not apply well to direct IP transactions, and such transactions should be considered in future amendments of the Income Tax Act. Next, as IP transactions are usually involved in cross-border transactions and potentially subject to double taxation, given the fact that Taiwan has tax treaties only with a few countries, this study suggests identification of income origin be based on the economic connection so as to avoid unfair double taxation. Thirdly, as copyright lacks a public disclosure system and hence a copyright-backed financing deal may be mistakenly treated as sales rather than transfer guaranty and be unfairly taxed, this study suggests a separate treatment for such transactions. Finally, regarding taxation on stocks exchanged for IP, this study suggests differentiating the timing of taxation for encouraging new venture formation from that for rewarding employees, based on certain proposed criteria