VAT rebates as trade policy: Evidence from China

Value-added tax (VAT) rebates are a commonly used export-promoting policy. This paper exploits China's frequent adjustments of VAT rebates and large-scale data on export transactions to estimate the effects of VAT rebates on exports. Our difference-in-differences estimations show that the negative adjustments of VAT rebates in our sample period significantly reduce export value and quantity by 15.30% and 19.75%, respectively. This shows that the trade policy of VAT rebates is very effective. We also find that the effect of VAT rebates on exports operating through extensive margins is larger than the effect through intensive margins. Moreover, we find that the pass-through of VAT rebates to importers is around 47%.     

Government Spending Efficiency on Economic Growth: Roles of Value-added Tax

This study examines the impact of government spending efficiency on the economic growth of 115 countries with value-added tax (VAT) system. We seek to examine the moderating role of the VAT system on the relationship between public spending efficiency and the economic growth. Using Generalized Method of Moments estimation based on two-step estimate, we found (1) government spending efficiency promotes economic growth, (2) the VAT system is found to enhance the effect of an efficient government spending on the economic growth and (3) the moderating role of the VAT system is further enhanced by quality of democracy and legislative strength of the government.     

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.     

A general equilibrium model of Value Added Tax evasion: an application to Pakistan

International Economics and Economic Policy - Value Added Taxes (VAT) constitute a major share of tax revenues in developing countries in which tax evasion is widespread. The literature on VAT...     

ADOPTING A VALUE-ADDED TAX IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY*

There are many decisions points to consider once a government has decided to put in place a value added tax. Some of these decisions pre-determine other decisions. In particular, most countries have chosen this VAT to be most suitable: consumption type of VAT designed along the destination principle, and collected by the credit method. Other features tend to be more variable depending on the countries concerned. Most countries would want to adopt the comprehensive VAT, down to the retail level, but practical considerations would necessitate the introduction only of the pre-retail VAT. The VAT may have a narrower coverage of sectors because of the limitations related to special conditions of small establishments, especially in developing countries and because of the stage of economic activity covered. When these are taken into account, through the technique of exemption, the VAT would tend to be applicable to the more formal sector of the economy that is composed of larger establishments. The simplest VAT would be conceived with a single rate, but intermediate rates may be introduced to accommodate the need to meet social considerations on the burden of the tax. Finally, although this paper dealt with the issues about the introduction of a VAT, the same issues would loom large in any improvements designed to broaden the coverage of an existing VAT. It is likely that the most basic choices will have to be committed at the point of introduction. In that respect, there is some irreversibility in the choice of the type of VAT, the principle upon which it is based, and the method of collecting it. Room for improvement will take place essentially in the coverage of the tax. For instance, this can be in terms of the following: movement towards the comprehensive VAT, in the case of a decision in favor of a pre-retail level VAT; increase in the coverage of sectors where before the horizontal coverage is narrow; and changes in the level of the tax rate.     

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.     

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.     

我国增值税税收流失问题与对策研究

增值税作为我国的主体税种,严重的偷逃税行为在很大程度上制约了经济的发展。税收的现金支出刚性、公民纳税意识的薄弱、增值税本身的不完善性、较低的税收征管和执法水平都是造成增值税税收流失的主要原因。因此,提高公民的纳税意识、完善增值税制度、加强税收征管、严格税收执法是治理增值税税收流失的有效途径。     

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.     

“营改增”、制造业服务化与全要素生产率提升——基于DI合成控制法的实证研究

文章使用上市公司2007-2016年制造业企业面板数据,运用DI合成控制法和中介效应模型,实证检验了"营改增"对制造业全要素生产率的直接影响及"营改增"通过制造业服务化对全要素生产率的间接影响。结果表明："营改增"政策主要通过直接作用提高制造业全要素生产率,经由制造业服务化来提高制造业全要素生产率的中介作用并不存在。文章的研究对"营改增"政策完善与制造业转型升级具有一定的启示。     

东北地区增值税转型的效应分析

增值税转型已经在东北地区试点,通过试点考验财政承受能力,把握对投资的刺激作用以及税改可能引发的问题,为在全国展开增值税转型积累经验,那么东北试点的效应就有重要的借鉴意义。本文围绕税改的目的分析了税改对投资、就业、财政等方面的效应,并得到对财政的影响不大,投资引导明显,企业实际效果不佳,增值税转型正副效应兼有等结论。国家需要对转型政策和其他配套政策同步完善,在确保财政收入的前提下,减少振荡,逐步推进。     

VALUE-ADDED TAX IN A BORDERLESS SA-BLNS REGION

Market integration and the abolition of border controls increase the mobility of consumers and cross‐border shopping. This makes it difficult to maintain a destination‐based VAT. Because of differences in the size of countries, governments of different sizes may engage in inefficient tax competition. Such externalities result in a call for tax coordination and a review of VAT regimes most suitable to a globalised world. One of the ultimate objectives of an African Union is a single market. This paper introduces the potential VAT policy implications of further economic integration within Southern Africa as a prelude to an African Economic Community, drawing on the experience of the EU in particular. When the critical factors that may impact on VAT policy are viewed together with SACU's long history of customs cooperation, a form of clearing‐house regime seems appropriate. However, this may not be politically appropriate, thus clearing the way for a more conventional approach, such as the transitional EU‐VAT regime.     

The Stagnant Export Upgrading in Northeast China: Evidence from Value‐added Tax Reform

China's 2004 value‐added tax (VAT) pilot reform in the Northeast region, which changed the VAT from production type to consumption type, introduced a sizable tax credit for fixed investment in manufacturing industries, leading to more investment and higher productivity at firm level. This paper, however, uses difference‐in‐difference estimation and finds a negative structural effect; that is, the VAT pilot reform leads to a reduction in the export sophistication of Northeast cities relative to other cities in China, and the results hold for a battery of robustness checks. It is found that resources are reallocated towards less‐sophisticated industries. As the products with higher export sophistication are more skill and research and development (R&D) intensive, the shortfalls of skilled labor and R&D spending hinder the upgrading process. With a new round of revitalization plans in the Northeast, policymakers should be cautious with similar structural effects and focus on increasing skilled labor supply and R&D investment.     

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。     

增值税扩围改革有助于减轻服务业税负吗?——基于投入产出表的分析

增值税扩围改革对服务业行业流转税负担的影响同时包含"税率提高的增税效应"与"进项抵扣的减税效应"。利用投入产出表数据,分析并测算了增值税扩围改革影响各服务业行业流转税负变动的净效应,结果发现:不同服务业行业的税负变化情况差异较大,商务服务业等大多数行业的税负将减轻,但租赁业等部分行业的税负可能会加重,税改后的增值税税率水平选择与中间投入比率是影响服务业行业税负变动的主要因素。为了优化服务业发展的税收环境,使增值税扩围改革有助于减轻服务业的流转税负,应根据税负平衡点审慎选择服务业行业税改后适用的增值税税率。当前制定的租赁业、交通运输业的试点税率水平偏高,有必要降低。     

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。     

Rebalancing and the Chinese VAT: Some numerical simulation results

This paper presents numerical simulation results that suggest that China can both reduce its trade imbalance and receive welfare benefits by switching the value added tax (VAT) regime from the current destination principle to an origin principle. We modify the traditional general equilibrium tax model to capture endogenous trade imbalances along with endogenous factor supply, a fixed exchange rate and a non-accommodative monetary policy structure which supports the Chinese trade imbalance. We calibrate model parameters to 2008 data and simulate counterfactual equilibrium for VAT tax basis switches in which the trade imbalance changes. Our results suggest that given China's trade surplus VAT regime switching to an origin basis can decrease China's trade surplus by over 40%, and additionally increase Chinese and world welfare. This has implications for present G20 discussions on finding ways to adjust global trade imbalances.     

增值税转型对新疆财政收支影响的实证研究

我国自2004年下半年开始在东北试点增值税转型的改革拉开了增值税转型的序幕,并有望近期在全国推广。本文在分析转型对财政收入影响的机理上,通过实证分析估算出了增值税转型对新疆和地州(市)财政收支的影响程度。     

New Firm Formation-is VAT Registration Data an Accurate Indicator?

This paper utilises a novel and original data set collected from a survey of entirely new firms in south Wales. It compares this survey with published VAT data to address the extent to which published VAT registration actually reflects the amount of new firm formation taking place. Using this survey and a chi square test, this article offers evidence of the deficiencies of published VAT data when used as a proxy for new firm formation and suggests caution in the use of VAT data.     

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。