The Potential Impact of Reforms to the Essential Parameters of the Council Tax*

Council tax was introduced in Britain in 1993 and represents a unique international property tax. There is a growing belief that it is time to reform the number and structure of council tax bands, but such views have a minimal empirical base. This paper sets out to assess the impact of changing the bands on personal and local government finances, and extends the analysis to the role of the tax multipliers linked to each band. The research is based on the experience of a representative sample of local authorities in Scotland. A statistical revaluation for 2000 is estimated for the existing eight‐band system, and from this base a 10‐band system is calculated. Financial implications are then simulated for each local authority, taking account of central resource equalisation mechanisms. The results indicate that increases in the number of bands will have little impact on the burden of the council tax compared with regular revaluations. Changing the tax multiplier range has the greatest impact on local authority finances and council tax payments.     

“营改增”影响地方政府税收努力研究

基于随机前沿分析法（SFA）测算2011-2015年我国地方政府税收努力程度,并运用双重差分法考察“营改增”对地方征税行为的影响。研究发现：“营改增”将地方税（营业税）变为共享税（增值税）,显著降低了地方政府税收努力程度;改革对税收努力的冲击受经济发展水平、转移支付额度和税收返还的影响,获取转移支付收入和税收返还越多的地区税收努力下降速度越快。后“营改增”时期,如何提高税收效率,缓解地方财政收入对转移支付和债务收入的依赖性,是理顺中央和地方财税关系,完善财税收入体系的重要问题。     

The effects of agglomeration on tax competition: evidence from a two-regime spatial panel model on French data

This article studies how agglomeration economies affect tax competition between local jurisdictions. We develop a theoretical model with two main testable predictions: in a setting where agglomeration forces lessen the responsiveness of capital to tax, high-regime agglomeration jurisdictions should adopt a rent-taxing behavior, and they should react less to their neighbors’ tax policies. The panel dataset spans the period from 1995 to 2007 and focuses on the local business taxes set at the French mid-subnational jurisdiction level of départements. First, instrumental variables estimates indicate that attractive jurisdictions capture a significant part of firms’ agglomeration rent by levying higher tax rates. An increase by 1% of the localization economies indicator (a specialization index) leads to increasing the business tax rate by 0.43%. Second, local tax setting behaviors are characterized by a mimetic behavior, with best response functions that slope upwards. We propose a two-agglomeration-regime spatial lag model to estimate through ML the relationship between tax competition and attractiveness. Our main result shows that both are linked and tax mimicry is less pronounced if a jurisdiction is agglomerated. Specifically, in response to a decrease in the tax rate of neighboring local governments by 1%, local governments with strong agglomeration economies reduce their tax rate by 0.4% against 0.6% for local government characterized by a low-agglomeration regime. We show that the classical one-size-fits-all-case of a single regime of agglomeration suffers from a 40% downward bias for low-agglomeration jurisdictions. We draw the link to policy praxis by discussing the optimal design of equalization schemes.     

营业税改征增值税的税率评估——基于可计算一般均衡模型的研究

营业税改征增值税是完善我国税制的一个重要举措,确定各个产业部门改征增值税后的税率是其中一个关键的环节。运用可计算一般均衡模型可以评估营业税改征增值税之后不同税率的选择对宏观经济和产业结构的影响。政策模拟的结果显示,目前正在实施的营业税改征增值税的试点方案权衡了对财政收入和经济增长以及经济结构的影响,是对经济运行影响较小的稳健选择。     

The revenue and base effects of local tax hikes: evidence from a quasi-experiment

Due to a reform of the local equalization scheme in 2003, a set of municipalities in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) increased their local property and business tax rates by one to two percentage points, while the remaining municipalities kept their rates constant. I use this variation across municipalities and over time to study the revenue and base effects of local property and business tax hikes in a generalized difference-in-differences design. The results suggest that the property tax hikes had even in the long-run a revenue elasticity of unity. Accordingly, I find no adverse effects on property tax bases. For the business tax, I find no significant effects on revenues and bases. Furthermore, there are also no effects on broader economic outcomes such as local employment, firms’ wage bill, and property prices. Overall, increasing local tax rates by one to two percentage points does not seem to affect the local economy adversely.

     

Local taxes and political influence: evidence from locally dominant firms in German municipalities

We analyze the impact of locally dominant firms—i.e. firms that contribute a sizeable share to municipalities’ revenues—on local business tax rates. We argue that these firms have considerable political power locally even if they are not large in the regional or national perspective. These locally dominant firms can use their political power to voice their concerns directly vis-à-vis the local government—a channel of influence that is hardly available in municipalities with an atomistic structure of tax payers. We hypothesize that municipalities with locally dominant firms will set lower tax rates than municipalities in which tax-payers’ concentration is low. We test the impact of tax-payers’ concentration on local business tax rates using data from 423 municipalities in the German state Hesse between 1998 and 2005. The estimation technique accounts for spatial lags and autoregressive disturbances. Results support our central hypothesis: the higher the tax-payers’ concentration, the lower the municipal business tax rates.     

Local property tax differences and business real estate values

This article posits a model of the effect of differences in changes in local property tax rates on changes in the business real estate tax base. It is also hypothesized that changes in the tax base influence changes in the property tax rate. Empirical findings for metropolitan Chicago are that both differences in property tax changes and levels have large effects on the growth of the value of business real estate. Also, changes in the property tax rate are found to depend upon changes in the tax base as well as the property tax level and its previous change.     

增值税和营业税的变化趋势及改革路径

从世界范围看,一个国家的工业化和城市化进程是推动该国税收制度变化的基本力量。本文研究了在工业化和城市化水平双重坐标下,作为我国中央政府第一大税种的增值税和作为我国大多数地方政府第一大税种的营业税的变化趋势,评估了我国增值税和营业税的改革方向和改革困境,并指出了其改革路径。     

Local tax rebates,corporate tax burdens,and firm migration: Evidence from China

Conflicts of interest between local governments and the central administration in China have yielded many local policies that only serve the interests of local governments. The policy of first levying and then rebating taxes is an example of how local governments eschew the national tax regulations to boost local economies rather than national interests. In 2001, the Chinese government announced the termination of local tax rebates, which had some expected outcomes. We find that local governments complied with the new tax policy even though it no longer allowed local governments to grant tax incentives. However, some companies found ways to avoid the greater tax burdens by moving their business registration locations to tax havens. We also find that firms controlled by local governments were less likely to change registration locations. Our study examines the national tax regulation in China and explores how tax rules influence company decisions. In addition, we show that non-tax incentives, such as local economic development, may also influence company decisions.     

Structuring a tax efficient international operation

International taxation is rapidly increasing in importance in the U.S. business environment. As a student preparing for a career in public accounting or industry, it is vital that you have familiarity with key international tax issues. In this case, you will participate in a detailed tax-planning exercise involving a multinational corporation that is restructuring its tax operations. In the process, you will be exposed to a wide-ranging array of real-world tax issues: tax theory, source of income, transfer pricing, foreign tax credits, the foreign earned income exclusion and Subpart F income. The case also incorporates questions designed to help you explore the financial accounting implications of tax planning. The case consists of three tax modules and each module emphasizes two to three specific tax issues. Two of the modules also contain a subset of tax-related financial accounting questions. To complete the case successfully, you will be required to understand basic international tax theory, to engage in the tax research process and to apply your theoretical knowledge in analyzing complex business scenarios.     

Whether the policy of RBTVAT has promoted the expansion of UCIBs: Quasi-natural experiment based on new statistical scope data

The expanded offerings of urban construction investment bonds (UCIBs) is an important component of the implicit debts of local governments in China. Based on the new statistical scope panel data on UCIBs of prefecture-level cities from 2010 to 2013, this paper constructs a quasi-natural experimental difference-in-difference (DID) model to investigate whether the “replacing business tax with value-added tax” (RBTVAT) policy has stimulated the expansion of UCIBs. The results showed that this policy has promoted the expansion of UCIBs, and such positive influence is only exists in the economically developed eastern region. The findings add to the recognition that when a country implements a tax policy reform, it should take full account of the possibility that it will increase the financial risk of local governments.     

Fiscal Policy Shocks in the Euro Area and the US: An Empirical Assessment*

We analyse the impact of fiscal policy shocks in the euro area as a whole, using a newly‐available quarterly data set of fiscal variables for the period 1981–2007. To allow for comparability with previous results on euro‐area countries and the US, we use a standard structural vector autoregressive (VAR) framework, and study the impact of aggregated and disaggregated government spending and net‐tax shocks. In addition, to frame euro‐area results, we apply the same methodology for the same sample period to US data. We also explore the sensitivity of the results to the inclusion of variables aiming to control for underlying financial and fiscal conditions. The main new findings are that: expansionary fiscal shocks have a short‐term positive impact on GDP and private consumption, with government spending shocks entailing, in general, higher effects on economic activity than (net) tax reductions; output multipliers to government expenditure shocks are of similar size in the euro area and in the US; the persistence of a fiscal spending shock is higher in the US than in the euro area, which appears to be related to military spending in the US; and fiscal multipliers have increased over the recent past in both geographical areas.     

Tax policy and planning implications of hidden taxes: effective marginal tax rate exercises

Hidden taxes in the form of floors and phaseouts are prevalent in the current US tax system and can have a considerable impact on the marginal tax rate faced by the taxpayer. It is important that future tax professionals be familiar with the theoretical and practical implications of hidden taxes. This paper provides a series of classroom exercises to illustrate the impact that hidden taxes can have on marginal tax rates. Information for incorporating this material into an introductory tax course is also provided. The exercises help inform students about the impact of specific tax provisions on marginal tax rates and business and investment decisions, while also giving instructors an opportunity to discuss the tax policy considerations that lead to implementation of these provisions.     

“营业税改征增值税”对地方经济的影响分析——以吉林省延边州为例

自从“营改增”税收模式在2012年1月1日上海试运行以来，其动态一直处于各界人士的关注当中。随着“营改增”税收制度的不断完善，目前延边州1万多户企业单位成为了“营改增”试点，随着我国社会经济持续发展，“营改增”作为我国税制改革与增值税改革发展的必然趋势，这种税收模式将越来越被人所认同，并愿意接受和实施该税收制度。当该税收制度实行的程度越深，对地方经济的影响也会越来越大，以下我们就浅谈该税收模式对延边州地方经济的影响及建议。     

Causes,benefits, and risks of business tax incentives

This paper provides an updated overview of tax incentives for business investment. It argues that tax competition is likely to be a major force driving countries’ tax reforms, and discusses tax incentives as a possible response to this. This is complemented by more detailed arguments for and against tax incentives, and by an illustrative analysis of different incentives using effective tax rates. Findings from the empirical literature on tax incentives are also presented. Based on the overview of theoretical and empirical findings, the paper then suggests a matrix of criteria to determine the usefulness of different tax incentives depending on a country’s circumstances.     

促进共同富裕的税收制度与政策研究

实现共同富裕是社会主义的根本目标,是社会主义优越性的体现.本文首先介绍了共同富裕的内涵,共同富裕是全体人民的富裕,是兼顾公平与效率的富裕.本文进一步阐述了税收制度在促进共同富裕中发挥的积极作用,并结合具体数据进行国际比较,剖析目前我国税收制度在促进收入分配方面存在的不足.我国税收制度在缩小收入差距方面已取得阶段性成效,但仍存在直接税体系不完善、"税收洼地"引发诸多避税风险、税收征管体制面临多重挑战等方面的不足.最后,本文从持续优化税收营商环境,鼓励勤劳创新致富;健全直接税体系,提高税收调节收入再分配的作用;规范地方税收优惠,维护财政收入分配秩序;提升税收征管水平,严厉打击偷税漏税行为四个维度提出了政策建议.     

税收优惠政策清理的价值取向、政策评估与顶层设计

地方税收优惠政策泛滥是中国财税领域长期存在且饱受争议的问题,积弊已久的税收优惠政策已经严重干扰到了市场资源配置与竞争公平性。2014年国家出台了系列政策,对地方税收优惠政策进行清理,采取“一刀切”的方式,要求坚决取缔一切不合法、不合规的地方优惠政策,忽视了地方政府利益现实诉求和区域经济发展差异,未全面调整处理好优惠政策背后的中央与地方利益关系,导致执行半年的清理行动搁置。因此,接下来的税收优惠清理行动需要兼顾地方利益诉求与央地关系调整,围绕建立税式支出预算监测报告机制,使税收优惠的作用及因此减少的税收收入显性化,并纳入预算管理程序;统筹结合税制改革,调整税收优惠清理路径;研究赋予地方一定税收优惠立法权的可行性,完善转移支付机制等顶层设计,以全面深化税收优惠体制改革。     

“营改增”与企业经营决策:专业化还是多元化?——基于中国制造业上市公司的经验证据

企业在制度环境的变迁中做出的经营决策关乎其生存与发展。作为“放管服”改革的重要内容,由点到面推开的“营改增”增强了企业自觉适应市场环境的活力,其带来的巨大减税效应以及专业化分工效应是否会促使企业放弃被误认为“粗放型发展”缩影的多元化经营策略呢?本文利用“营改增”这一准自然实验作为外生冲击,基于我国2010—2017年沪深A股制造业上市公司样本数据,使用双重差分模型研究发现,“营改增”政策促进制造业企业多元化经营,且注重横向多元化经营,主营业务中制造业业务增多,制造业业务收入增加。同时发现在“营改增”政策背景下,企业价值也大幅提升,在一定程度上从“营改增”政策角度为多元化溢价论还是折价论的争议提供了部分结果,也为我国“营改增”政策实施效果的进一步评价提供了参考和借鉴。     

居民企业境外所得税收抵免的计算

当居民企业取得境外所得时,通常已经在所得来源地按照当地的相关法律缴纳过所得税。如何按照我国税法规定正确计算可抵免的境外所得税额是每个有涉外业务的居民企业面临的难题。本文介绍了居民企业境外所得税收抵免相关项目的计算,并以案例的方式进一步加以分析。     

基于企业战略的税收筹划优化思考

企业战略与税收筹划是目标与手段的关系,企业战略是企业的整体和长远目标,税收筹划是实现该目标的具体手段,应服从于企业战略。应从市场竞争战略、投资战略、成本战略、价值链角度四个方面,优化税收筹划,以有效实现企业战略目标。