Poverty issues for zero rating VAT in South Africa

Governments often include equity considerations when determiningrates for value added taxes (VAT). This paper explores the implicationof current and proposed tax exemptions in South Africa fromthe perspective of their impact on the expenditures of the poorand on the calorie and protein consumption of low-income households.Maize, which is currently exempted from VAT, is shown to bethe best choice for low tax rates from both the standpointsof equity and the impact on the food consumption of the poor.In contrast, lower tax rates on fluid milk, which is currentlyexempted from VAT, and meat, for which an exemption has beenproposed, are not good vehicles for assisting the poor. Thepaper illustrates the revenue forgone with zero tax rates onthese commodities and compares the tax relief for the poor andchange in nutrients consumed from alternative tax exemptions.     

Modelling value-added tax in the presence of multi-production and differentiated exemptions

We develop a framework for economy-wide modelling of value-added tax systems. Our framework models a number of complexities of VAT systems as implemented by tax agencies. In particular, we model multiple rates, multiple exemptions, multiple degrees of refundability across commodity users, and multi-product enterprises. We use our framework to model what is arguably South East Asia's most complex VAT system: that of Vietnam. We analyse the macroeconomic, industrial and distributional effects of simplifying Vietnam's complex VAT system. We simplify the system via a budget-neutral movement to one rate and removal of discretionary exemptions. This generates an aggregate welfare gain, but adverse distributional effects. Adverse distributional effects can be greatly ameliorated, at small cost to the aggregate welfare gain, via exclusion of paddy and rice from the VAT simplification program.     

Sales tax exemptions and credits: Time to reevaluate

The state sales tax is an inherently regressive source of revenue. This has given rise to attempts to counter the regressivity through adjustments to the basic sales tax structure through credits and exemptions. Two new alternatives appear to have both theoretical and practical advantages over simple credits and exemptions: the use of a debit card for delivering sales tax credits and a negative credit related to potential tax liability. They have the theoretical advantages of both the credit and the exemption while not having the administrative difficulties of the credit or the revenue loss of the exemption. Empirical analysis using the Consumer Expenditure Survey and the Maryland tax code indicates that the state can reduce regressivity and raise substantial revenue using either alternative. The proposed gains can be made with enhanced revenue stability, little administrative cost, and little impact on horizontal equity or efficiency.     

“营改增”倒逼消费税改革

在"营改增"不断推进的大背景下,为调整央地税制关系,稳定地方税源,消费税改革的呼声日益高涨。我国现行消费税虽历经了两次调整,但其现行税制仍不能适应升级了的消费结构,其征税范围需有增有减的调整,征税环节也需从生产环节下移,为弥补"营改增"为地方政府带来的空缺,可培养消费税为地方税主力。     

从税收公平原则看我国“营改增”改革

税收公平原则是我国进行税制改革的基本价值追求。本文针对在我国逐步开展的"营改增"试点工作,从税收公平原则的角度出发,分别从中央和地方税收分配、不同行业税收负担、纳税人划分标准的角度论述了在我国"营改增"试点中出现的偏差,并针对这些问题提出了自己的一些建议。     

Considering the efficacy of value-added tax zero-rating as pro-poor policy: The case of South Africa

The use of value-added tax (VAT) zero-rating has become widely accepted internationally to mitigate the regressivity of the tax. From an economic perspective, it remains contestable whether VAT zero-rating is the most cost-effective way of targeting the poor. This article addresses some topical issues on VAT zero-rating in South Africa. We first ask whether (conceptually) zero-rating should be a consideration within the context of tax theory literature, and then quantify the impact on the poor if zero-rating was to be removed, as well as the tax revenue implications thereof. We compare the cost of VAT zero-rating with the benefit, using data sourced from the Income and Expenditure Survey 2010/11 and the Estimates of National Expenditure. Our findings show that VAT zero-rating (compared with existing social transfer programmes) is not cost-effective when targeting the poor.     

Indonesia's new tax reform: Potential and direction

This study aims to provide direction for policy and provide input to improve the quality of taxation services, by emphasizing and analyzing the existing tax potential and recommending a taxation reformation plan in accordance with fiscal sustainability and efforts to increase the level of Indonesian competence both for the transition period and in the long term. The result of the study has indicated that there is still the opportunity to increase national revenue without increasing rates and by increasing the capacity of tax administration and expanding the tax base, tax collection/revenue will increase. There are a number of indicators that illustrate this, such as the ratio of tax revenue to the GDP which is still relatively low compared to other countries, wide scope for increasing value added tax (VAT), PIT and CIT revenue productivity, etc. Our best estimation for potential tax revenue expansion for the next 2–3 years would be 2.1% of GDP where PIT and CIT contributed more than half of that expansion.     

China's value-added tax reform, capital accumulation, and welfare implications

This paper analyzes the effects of China's upcoming value-added tax (VAT) reform of removing investment from the tax base on capital accumulation and the welfare of the rich and the poor. Three alternative methods to make up for the loss of tax revenue are considered. The VAT reform with consumption tax being endogenous increases capital accumulation and the utility of both the rich and the poor. The VAT reform with the labor income tax rate being endogenous increases capital accumulation; and it decreases the utility of the rich and increases the utility of the poor (increases the utility of both the rich and the poor) if the rich has a higher rate or the same rate of time preference (if the rich has a lower rate of time preference). The VAT reform, accompanied by a cut in transfers to the poor, has no effect on capital accumulation if the rich and the poor have the same rate of time preference; it decreases (increases) capital accumulation if the rich has a higher (lower) rate of time preference; and it increases the utility of the rich and decreases the utility of the poor.     

National and Regional Impacts of an Increase in Value-Added Tax: A CGE Analysis for South Africa

The South African National Treasury expected a revenue shortfall of R48.2 billion in 2017/18 and proposed tax policy measures to raise an additional R36 billion in 2018/19. A key component to raise the additional revenue was a 1% point increase in the VAT rate to 15% effective from 1 April 2018. The increase in the VAT rate was not welcomed as it would increase the cost of living, especially for the poor. We investigate the potential economy-wide and regional impacts of raising VAT and increasing public spending on education and health. We do this by developing and applying a multi-regional model of the South African economy that includes detailed tax and spending features. In this model, when we increase VAT, the impacts are driven by the direct shock to the model, accompanied by differences in regional economic activity. We find that effects on GDP vary between regions but are generally negative.     

浅议增值税改革

增值税从开始走到现在,一直都在不断的完善之中,并成功地进入转型;增值税和营业税并存的格局发展到今天,面临着征收链条断裂、税负不公、重复纳税等诸多问题,因此,营业税改征增值税,成为当下增值税改革的关键内容。改革势在必行,改革也困难重重。本文介绍了改革的进程,并提出了一些需要思考的问题。     

Tax system reform in India: Achievements and challenges ahead

Indian tax system has come a long way from the narrow based, complicated and confiscatory to the one that is far more efficient. Over the years, the thrust and direction of reforms have been to improve revenue productivity while minimising distortions. The reform to convert the state level sales tax into VAT this year is a major initiative. The recent focus on tax administration promises rich dividends.Despite reforms since 1991, much remains to be done to make the tax system broad-based, productive and efficient. In corporate tax, excise, customs and sales taxes, revenue concentration on diesel and petrol has high efficiency costs. The personal income tax continues to be narrow based. Reform in the sales tax has only just begun and a lot remain to be done to evolve destination-based retail VAT. The reforms in tax administration promise increased revenues and, hopefully, that will provide the elbow room necessary for calibrating future reforms.     

Does tax deduction relax financing constraints? Evidence from China's value-added tax reform

Financial constraint is a significant obstacle for firm growth, especially in developing countries where credit is scarce. This paper explores the role of tax policy in relaxing firms' financial constraints by exploiting China's value-added tax (VAT) reform that was initiated in 2004 and completed in 2009. We use a quasi-experimental method and Annual Survey of Industrial Firms (ASIF) data from 2000 to 2009 to estimate the VAT reform's policy effects on financial constraints. We show that the VAT reform significantly improves firms' external financing capacity by decreasing borrowing costs and promoting commercial credit. The findings are robust to alternative specifications but show heterogeneity across ownerships, firm sizes, regions, and between export and non-export firms. Our analysis suggests tax deduction is useful to relax firms' financial constraints.     

论我国生态税征收和比较的分析

本文认为我国目前生态环境破坏严重,应该进行生态补偿,而税收是有效的生态补偿的经济手段。在分析税收的基础上,本文指出了生态税从现行税收体制中单列的技术系统,建立了动态征收生态税的模型和比较不同地区税负水平的方法,最后提出了我国税制建立的设计原则。     

我国增值税转型的影响效应分析

增值税由生产型转换为消费型后,企业的增值税、企业所得税以及城市维护建设税税收负担将随之发生变化。增值税转型会引起的政府财政收入的减少。这种财政减收在中央与地方财政之间分配。增值税转型促进基础产业和资本密集型企业的发展,符合我国产业政策的发展方向;能够刺激投资需求;而且有利于公平税负,实现内外资两套税法的统一;还将增强我国出口产品的国际竞争能力,对外贸出口具有重要意义。     

The effects of casino gambling on state tax revenue

A theoretical model of state tax structure implies that revenue enhancement due to the introduction of casino gambling is less likely in states where incomes taxes do not exist and where casino tax rates are lower than the corresponding tax rates on sales taxable and excise taxable goods. Further, it is clear that casino gambling is likely to adversely impact lottery tax revenues earmarked for education. Due to the cross-price effects of gambling, tax revenues will likely decline in states that introduce nontaxable casino gambling on Indian reservations. In the longer term, as casino gambling proliferates increasing competition among states, there will be negative revenue consequences due to fewer tourism and employment dollars.     

Income tax reform for a globalized world: The case for a dual income tax

Countries that are industrialized, or becoming so, must adopt tax systems that are capable of raising considerable amounts of revenue efficiently, equitably and with administrative simplicity, while at the same time coping with the competitive features of a globalized world economy. A component of that tax system will be direct taxation of households alongside general sales and payroll taxation. This paper addresses the role that capital income taxes should play in the income tax system. Arguments for the preferential treatment of capital income are summarized, and a case is made for adopting a schedular approach in which capital and labor income are taxed according to separate rate structures. The particular case of the dual income tax system used in the Nordic countries is advocated whereby capital income is taxed at a low, flat rate and non-capital income is taxed progressively. It is argued that this system best combines the objectives of a good tax system in an internationally competitive environment.     

消费型增值税:增值税改革的必然选择

增值税由生产型改为消费型是增值税改革的必然选择。其改革和完善应从扩大征税范围、合理设计适用税率、统一纳税人、规范税款抵扣和税收减免等方面入手,解决好改革对财政收入、固定资产存量处理、无形资产抵扣和现有征管条件的影响,促进我国税制结构的优化和社会经济持续稳定     

我国增值税制存在的问题及完善对策

我国现行增值税制度的弊端日益明显：征税范围偏窄与增值税环环相扣、相互制约的要求矛盾;扣税范围不彻底与促进技术进步、优化经济结构的要求矛盾;扣税凭证不规范与保证税收及时足额入库的要求矛盾;税收减免优惠过多、过乱与增值税中性税收的要求矛盾;对纳税人实行差别管理与国民经济发展的要求矛盾。完善增值税制度,应逐步将营业税纳入增值税的征收范围,缩小增值税减免优惠范围,不断增加征收技术投入,提高征收人员素质,逐渐取消两类纳税人的划分办法,坚决推行税制改革。     

企业国际化发展中税收政策运用的国际比较

政府税收政策的制定和实施对企业的国际化发展起重要的促进作用,无论在发达国家还是发展中国家,税收政策都为企业的发展融入全球经济提供了必不可少的条件。随着中国经济形势的变化和发展,我国税收政策面临诸多挑战,和发达国家比较,不仅存在一些不合理的因素,甚至和有些发展中国家的某些税收政策相比,也有不足之处。本文试图分别从出口、海外引资及境外投资等3种企业国际化主要形式入手,对比典型发达国家及发展中国家与我国政府税收政策的差异、优劣,佐证企业的国际化发展绝对离不开政府税收政策的支持和指导,也离不开具体的税收制度提供的服务和帮助。     

The impact of demographic change on tax revenue

This paper stimulates the impact of demographic change on direct tax revenue for the Netherlands using extensive survey data and population projections. Projected demographic development in the Netherlands fits in well with the OECD mainstream. The analysis thus has a more general relevance. The simulations indicate a 27 percent rise in tax revenue until 2010 because of population growth and a relatively older labor force. After 2030, revenue falls as a consequence of a declining population and a rapidly rising share of the elderly. The authors also simulated a variant in which labor-force participation rates are set on the substantially higher OECD average. In this case, the increase in tax revenue almost doubles as compared to the base variant.