VATs in CEE Countries: A Survey and Analysis

Ten Central and Eastern European countries have applied for membership of the European Union (EU). The adoption of the value-added tax (VAT) is a nonnegotiable condition. Accordingly, all these countries have introduced the VAT which, in principle, is a highly product-neutral, factor-neutral and revenue-productive tax. A review of the structures of the various VATs indicates that more can be done to tax public sector bodies and cultural services. In some countries, immovable property and the agricultural sector can be treated more even-handedly. However, the most important structural weakness of the VATs is the exemption and lower taxation of so-called essential products. VATs are ill-suited to enhance progressivity in tax burden distribution. It is concluded that policymakers should now focus their attention on improving the administration of their VATs. As in many other countries, tax policy often is tax administration.     

Tax policy and reform in Asian countries: Thailand''s perspective

This paper gives overviews of Thailand's tax system covering major taxes administered by the central government and the local taxes administered by the local government. Recent tax reform experiences are discussed at length starting from the introduction of value added tax (VAT) replacing the business tax to customs tariff reform. Current issues on taxation are also highlighted ranging from tax base, direct and indirect taxation, decentralization impediments. Furthermore, the government is implementing modern and cutting-edge technology in tax administration, thereby providing effective and efficient e-government services to the Thai people. This paper discusses the Roadmap for Tax Reform that would outline the framework for future direction of taxation in Thailand. Finally, the paper gives important insights on tax issues, and draws important conclusions for the future of tax reform in Thailand.     

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.     

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.     

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...     

美国税制结构是长期贸易赤字的重要原因

美国长期的贸易赤字一直是世人关注的焦点。关于美国贸易赤字的原因,国际社会众说纷纭,但世人却忽视了美国税制结构这一重要原因。近四十年来,世界多数国家都引进了增值税,该税对进口产品公平征税与出口产品准确退税的机制,促进了世界贸易的发展。在此期间,美国一直是以所得税为主的税制结构,根据WTO的规则,这种税制对进口产品不能征税,对出口产品不能退税,所以是导致美国长期贸易赤字的重要原因。统计资料也显示,美国贸易赤字的增长,与其主要贸易伙伴实行增值税国家的增加呈明显相关性。美国只有改变税制结构,消除导致长期贸易赤字的税制因素,才能促进贸易平衡。     

煤炭行业税收负担的测算及行业发展研究

煤炭行业税收负担对于行业发展具有重要影响.通过测算,煤炭行业的税收结构中增值税等间接税占比较高,而企业所得税占比相对低.在对煤炭行业税收负担进行测算并将营业税改征增值税前后的增值税税负和总税负进行对比后发现,营业税改征增值税确实在一定程度上减轻了煤炭行业的税收负担,但是随着资源税的从价计征和环境保护税的开征,行业税负又出现了一定程度的攀升.在分析的基础上提出促进煤炭行业发展的政策建议.     

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.     

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.     

Proposed changes to the value added tax: implications for tax revenue and price distortions

This paper examines changes to the value added tax (VAT) system proposed recently by the Indonesian Ministry of Finance-in particular that the exemptions for certain sectors be ended. Using the input-output relationships in the economy as a basis, it analyses the implications of these changes for tax revenue and for price distortions. It also considers other feasible changes to the VAT exemptions that could be advantageous. The paper concludes that the estimated revenue impacts of the proposed changes are small relative to the apparent scope for revenue increases from improved administration of the system as it stands.     

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。     

Trade in Services in the Asia-Pacific Region

After a discussion of definitional issues, such as the distinction between sales of services from the home base and from offshore establishments, the article surveys the literature on various policy issues in relation to trade in services, including those associated with the incorporation of services in the GATT, as well as others concerned with particular sectors. The article documents from the literature that developing countries can be internationally competitive suppliers of many services, which suggests that they stand to gain from a more liberal service trade regime.     

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。     

营业税改征增值税试点方案对港口企业的影响研究

2012年国家在上海等11个省市开展了交通运输业和部分现代服务业营业税改征增值税的试点工作,这一改革给港口企业一般纳税人的税负带来了影响,通过两种税负的比较分析,其因素包括税率偏高、可抵扣成本低等多个方面,应当采取扩大改革范围、给予企业过渡期补贴扶持、择机统一下调税率等措施。     

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。     

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.     

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.     

Tax Revenue Effects of Sectoral Growth and Public Expenditure in Uganda

This paper contributes to a growing strand of literature on the determinants of tax revenue performance in developing countries, particularly in Sub‐Saharan Africa. More specifically we estimate the tax elasticities of sectoral output growth and public expenditure. The unique features of this paper are twofold: First, we develop a simple analytical model for tax revenue performance taking into account some structural features pervasive in most developing countries with large informal sectors. Second, we test the model predictions on Ugandan time series data using ARDL bounds testing techniques. Results indicate that dominance of the agricultural and informal sectors pose the largest impediments to tax revenue performance. In addition development expenditures, trade openness, and industrial sector growth are positively associated with tax revenue performance. We propose policies to support the development of value added linkages between agricultural and industrial sectors while emphasizing the need to unlock the potentially large contributions of the informal sector with a view of widening the tax base.     

Seasonal money movements and the January effect

Many possible explanations have been suggested for the January effect, with tax considerations receiving the most attention. This analysis suggests a new explanation. The data show that money supply announcements during January contribute at least as much as tax considerations to explaining stock returns during the first five trading days in January. The seasonal behavior of money during December and January appears to be responsible for the money-supply-announcement effect. In addition, the end-of-year seasonal pattern of the money supply is present in other countries and was present before the adoption of personal taxes, so money supply announcements may offer a more consistent explanation of the January effect than tax considerations.     

Taxes, Agglomeration Rents and Location Decisions of Firms

The goal of this paper is to analyze the individual impact of tax rates and agglomeration rents as well as their interaction on location decisions of manufacturing firms within Belgium. Theoretically, both location determinants may weaken each other’s impact. Using a unique 10-year dataset concerning the number of newly setup manufacturing firms at the sector level for 43 Belgian districts, we show that local effective tax rates have a negative impact on location decisions. Moreover, location-specific supply-side agglomeration rents attract new firms and their impact appears to be even stronger for more spatially concentrated sectors. Finally, we show that a higher effective tax rate in a district does not necessarily deter new firms in more agglomerated districts, pointing to the existence of taxable location-specific agglomeration rents.