Eco Taxes Are More Used in EU Countries

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Eco Taxes Are More Used in EU Countries How to make eco-tax more efficient and effective Peter Yang March 4, 2011 Current Status of Eco Taxes: Eco taxes are more used in EU countries. However, even in countries where eco taxes are used, the levels are still too low (1.7% of GDP in Japan and 4% of GDP in Germany compared with the GDP share of all taxes at 16% in Japan and 21% in Germany), far from being effective to address the ecological impacts of the economic growth. Eco Tax Reform: Eco Taxes must be raised in combination of increased tax credit for renewable energy, reduced VAT, and reduced Income Tax for the poor to be more efficient and effective. Rationales of raising eco taxes: Why to raise eco taxes: Tax bad factors (“bads”: wasteful extraction and wasteful consumption of finite resources such as forests, fossil fuels; discharge of pollutants; and emissions of green gases) that make ecological and economic systems unsustainable. Impacts of raising eco taxes: Theoretical Intended results of eco taxes: 1. reducing bad factors in the economic development (“bads”) that make ecological and economic systems unsustainable 2. Impacts of raising eco taxes on government revenues a. Initially, eco taxes will increase government revenues and increase the government’s ability to decarbonize and ecologize the economic growth and make it more sustainable and equitable b. In the long run, reduced bads will lead to reduced government revenues because of reduced “bads” to be taxed Unintended results (side effects) of eco taxes in reality 1. The higher energy price will negatively impact economy because of reduced consumption and production unless the eco tax revenue is used to increase the supply of renewable energy to gradually decarbonize the energy supply and consumption. • Policy choice implications: the eco tax must be revenue-neutral and the eco tax revenue-neutrality must be i. partly (at 50% of the tax revenue?) reflected in tax credit or negative tax for renewable energy generation and consumption ii. partly (at 40% of the tax revenue?) reflected in reduction of value added tax (VAT) Justification: reducing VAT has two expected results a. Stabilize the overall price level; b. Neutralize the regressivity of eco-taxes because VAT is also a regressive tax, i.e. a tax that affects more the poor than the rich (Partially replacing the progressive income taxes would increase the regressivity of eco-taxes). 2. The poor will be impacted more than the rich because the eco-taxes will raise prices on essential products, such as gas and electricity, which hit the poor more than the rich. • Policy choice implication: the eco tax must be revenue-neutral and the eco tax revenue-neutrality must be partly (10% of the tax revenue?) reflected in tax credit or negative tax for the poor to compensate the increased costs of energy consumption related to eco taxes i. Justification: The poor might already be exempt from income taxes, but they still have to pay higher energy bills as a result of the eco tax. Solution to this problem: tax credit for the poor to compensate their increased living costs. Note: The percentage must be readjusted according to the increased costs of energy consumption. Ecological tax reform: a policy analysis of the Costanza, Daly, Hawken and Woodwell package http://www.green-innovations.asn.au/anzsee.htm Yang, Peter. “Public finance and environment: correlations of selected taxes with pollution and CO2 emissions in China between 1999 and 2006.” In: International Journal of Green Economics (2009): 3(1) 48-62. .
Recommended publications
  • Taxation: State and Local Ronald H
    Loyola University Chicago Law Journal Volume 18 Article 15 Issue 2 Winter 1986 1985-1986 Illinois Law Survey 1986 Taxation: State and Local Ronald H. Jacobson Follow this and additional works at: http://lawecommons.luc.edu/luclj Part of the Taxation-State and Local Commons Recommended Citation Ronald H. Jacobson, Taxation: State and Local, 18 Loy. U. Chi. L. J. 767 (1986). Available at: http://lawecommons.luc.edu/luclj/vol18/iss2/15 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by LAW eCommons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Loyola University Chicago Law Journal by an authorized administrator of LAW eCommons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Taxation: State and Local Ronald H. Jacobson* TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION .................................... 767 II. INCOME TAXATION ................................ 768 A. Unitary Taxation .............................. 768 B. Tax-Exempt Financing......................... 771 C. Interest on Federally GuaranteedBonds ........ 773 III. PROPERTY TAXATION .............................. 776 A. Charitableand EducationalExemptions ........ 776 B. Condominium Assessment Classifications ....... 778 IV. SALES TAXATION - USE TAX EXEMPTION ........ 780 V. TAX PROTESTING .................................. 782 A . Property Tax .................................. 782 B. Retaliatory Tax ................................ 784 VI. LOCAL GOVERNMENT TAXING POWERS ............ 786 A. County Tax Penalty Retention ................. 786 B. Taxation by Home Rule Units ................
    [Show full text]
  • TTB F 5000.24Sm Excise Tax Return
    OMB No. 1513-0083 DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 1. SERIAL NUMBER ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO TAX AND TRADE BUREAU (TTB) EXCISE TAX RETURN (Prepare in duplicate – See instructions below) 3. AMOUNT OF PAYMENT 2. FORM OF PAYMENT $ CHECK MONEY ORDER EFT OTHER (Specify) NOTE: PLEASE MAKE CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS PAYABLE TO THE ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO TAX AND 4. RETURN COVERS (Check one) BEGINNING TRADE BUREAU (SHOW EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON ALL CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS). IF PREPAYMENT PERIOD YOU SEND A CHECK, SEE PAPER CHECK CONVERSION ENDING NOTICE BELOW. 5. DATE PRODUCTS TO BE REMOVED (For Prepayment Returns Only) FOR TTB USE ONLY 6. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER 7. PLANT, REGISTRY, OR PERMIT NUMBER TAX $ PENALTY 8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF TAXPAYER (Include ZIP Code) INTEREST TOTAL $ EXAMINED BY: DATE EXAMINED: CALCULATION OF TAX DUE (Before making entries on lines 18 – 21, complete Schedules A and B) PRODUCT AMOUNT OF TAX (a) (b) 9. DISTILLED SPIRITS 10. WINE 11. BEER 12. CIGARS 13. CIGARETTES 14. CIGARETTE PAPERS AND/OR CIGARETTE TUBES 15. CHEWING TOBACCO AND/OR SNUFF 16. PIPE TOBACCO AND/OR ROLL-YOUR-OWN TOBACCO 17. TOTAL TAX LIABILITY (Total of lines 9-16) $ 18. ADJUSTMENTS INCREASING AMOUNT DUE (From line 29) 19. GROSS AMOUNT DUE (Line 17 plus line 18) $ 20. ADJUSTMENTS DECREASING AMOUNT DUE (From line 34) 21. AMOUNT TO BE PAID WITH THIS RETURN (Line 19 minus line 20) $ Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this return (including any accompanying explanations, statements, schedules, and forms) and to the best of my knowledge and belief it is true, correct, and includes all transactions and tax liabilities required by law or regulations to be reported.
    [Show full text]
  • SHOULD WE TAX UNHEALTHY FOODS and DRINKS? Donald Marron, Maeve Gearing, and John Iselin December 2015
    SHOULD WE TAX UNHEALTHY FOODS AND DRINKS? Donald Marron, Maeve Gearing, and John Iselin December 2015 Donald Marron is director of economic policy initiatives and Institute fellow at the Urban Institute, Maeve Gearing is a research associate at the Urban Institute, and John Iselin is a research assistant at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. The authors thank Laudan Aron, Kyle Caswell, Philip Cook, Stan Dorn, Lisa Dubay, William Gale, Genevieve Kenney, Adele Morris, Eric Toder, and Elaine Waxman for helpful comments and conversations; Joseph Rosenberg for running the Tax Policy Center model; Cindy Zheng for research assistance; Elizabeth Forney for editing; and Joanna Teitelbaum for formatting. This report was funded by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation. We thank our funders, who make it possible for Urban to advance its mission. The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be attributed to our funders, the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, the Urban Institute, or its trustees. Funders do not determine our research findings or the insights and recommendations of our experts. For more information on our funding principles, go to urban.org/support. TAX POLICY CENTER | URBAN INSTITUTE & BROOKINGS INSTITUTION EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A healthy diet is essential to a long and vibrant life. But there is increasing evidence that our diets are not as healthy as we would like. Obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and other conditions linked to what we eat and drink are major challenges globally. By some estimates, obesity alone may be responsible for almost 3 million deaths each year and some $2 trillion in medical costs and lost productivity (Dobbs et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Tax Policy Update 16 27 April
    Policy update Tax Policy Update 16 27 April HIGHLIGHTS • European Parliament: Plenary discusses state of public CBCR negotiations 18 April • Council: member states freeze CCTB negotiations in order to assess its impact on tax bases 20 April • European Commission: new rules for whistleblower protection proposed, covers tax avoidance too 23 April • European Parliament: ECON Committee holds public hearing on definitive VAT system 24 April • European Commission: new Company Law Package with tax dimension published 25 April European Commission Commission kicks off Fair Taxation Roadshow 19 April The European Commission has launched a series of seminars on fair taxation, with a first event held in Riga on 19 April. These seminars bring together civil society, business representatives, policy makers, academics and interested citizens to discuss and exchange views on tax avoidance and tax evasion. Further events are planned throughout 2018 in Austria (17 May), France (8 June), Italy (19 September) and Ireland (9 October). The Commission hopes that the roadshow seminars will further encourage active engagement on tax fairness principles at EU, national and local levels. In particular, a main aim seems to be to spread the tax debate currently ongoing at the EU-level into member states as well. Commission launches VAT MOSS portal 19 April The European Commission has launched a Mini-One Stop Shop (MOSS) portal for VAT purposes. The new MOSS portal provides comprehensive and easily accessible information on VAT rates for telecom, broadcasting and e- services, and explains how the MOSS can be used to declare and pay VAT on such services. 1 Commission proposes EU rules for whistleblower protection, covers tax avoidance as well 23 April The European Commission has published a new Directive for the protection of whistleblowers.
    [Show full text]
  • GAO-05-1009SP Understanding the Tax Reform Debate: Background, Criteria, and Questions
    Contents Preface 1 Introduction 4 Section 1 7 The Current Tax System 7 Revenue— Historical Trends in Tax Revenue 13 Taxes Exist to Historical Trends in Federal Spending 14 Borrowing versus Taxing as a Source of Fund Resources 15 Government Long-term Fiscal Challenge 17 Revenue Effects of Federal Tax Policy Changes 19 General Options Suggested for Fundamental Tax Reform 21 Key Questions 22 Section 2 24 Equity 26 Criteria for a Equity Principles 26 Good Tax Measuring Who Pays: Distributional Analysis 30 System Key Questions 33 Economic Efficiency 35 Taxes and Economic Decision Making 37 Measuring Economic Efficiency 40 Taxing Work and Savings Decisions 41 Realizing Efficiency Gains 43 Key Questions 43 Simplicity, Transparency, and Administrability 45 Simplicity 45 Transparency 47 Administrability 49 GAO-05-1009SP i Contents Trade-offs between Equity, Economic Efficiency, and Simplicity, Transparency, and Administrability 52 Key Questions 52 Section 3 54 Deciding if Transition Relief Is Necessary 54 Transitioning Identifying Affected Parties 55 to a Different Revenue Effects of Transition Relief 56 Policy Tools for Implementing Tax System Transition Rules 56 Key Questions 57 Appendixes Appendix I: Key Questions 58 Section I: Revenue Needs—Taxes Exist to Fund Government 58 Section II: Criteria for a Good Tax System 59 Equity 59 Efficiency 60 Simplicity, Transparency, and Administrability 61 Section III: Transitioning to a Different Tax System 62 Appendix II: Selected Bibliography and Related Reports 63 Government Accountability Office 63 Congressional
    [Show full text]
  • An Analysis of the Graded Property Tax Robert M
    TaxingTaxing Simply Simply District of Columbia Tax Revision Commission TaxingTaxing FairlyFairly Full Report District of Columbia Tax Revision Commission 1755 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 550 Washington, DC 20036 Tel: (202) 518-7275 Fax: (202) 466-7967 www.dctrc.org The Authors Robert M. Schwab Professor, Department of Economics University of Maryland College Park, Md. Amy Rehder Harris Graduate Assistant, Department of Economics University of Maryland College Park, Md. Authors’ Acknowledgments We thank Kim Coleman for providing us with the assessment data discussed in the section “The Incidence of a Graded Property Tax in the District of Columbia.” We also thank Joan Youngman and Rick Rybeck for their help with this project. CHAPTER G An Analysis of the Graded Property Tax Robert M. Schwab and Amy Rehder Harris Introduction In most jurisdictions, land and improvements are taxed at the same rate. The District of Columbia is no exception to this general rule. Consider two homes in the District, each valued at $100,000. Home A is a modest home on a large lot; suppose the land and structures are each worth $50,000. Home B is a more sub- stantial home on a smaller lot; in this case, suppose the land is valued at $20,000 and the improvements at $80,000. Under current District law, both homes would be taxed at a rate of 0.96 percent on the total value and thus, as Figure 1 shows, the owners of both homes would face property taxes of $960.1 But property can be taxed in many ways. Under a graded, or split-rate, tax, land is taxed more heavily than structures.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Article (PDF)
    5th International Conference on Accounting, Auditing, and Taxation (ICAAT 2016) TAX TRANSPARENCY – AN ANALYSIS OF THE LUXLEAKS FIRMS Johannes Manthey University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany Dirk Kiesewetter University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany Abstract This paper finds that the firms involved in the Luxembourg Leaks (‘LuxLeaks’) scandal are less transparent measured by the engagement in earnings management, analyst coverage, analyst accuracy, accounting standards and auditor choice. The analysis is based on the LuxLeaks sample and compared to a control group of large multinational companies. The panel dataset covers the years from 2001 to 2015 and comprises 19,109 observations. The LuxLeaks firms appear to engage in higher levels of discretionary earnings management measured by the variability of net income to cash flows from operations and the correlation between cash flows from operations and accruals. The LuxLeaks sample shows a lower analyst coverage, lower willingness to switch to IFRS and a lower Big4 auditor rate. The difference in difference design supports these findings regarding earnings management and the analyst coverage. The analysis concludes that the LuxLeaks firms are less transparent and infers a relation between corporate transparency and the engagement in tax avoidance. The paper aims to establish the relationship between tax avoidance and transparency in order to give guidance for future policy. The research highlights the complex causes and effects of tax management and supports a cost benefit analysis of future tax regulation. Keywords: Tax Avoidance, Transparency, Earnings Management JEL Classification: H20, H25, H26 1. Introduction The Luxembourg Leaks (’LuxLeaks’) scandal made public some of the tax strategies used by multinational companies.
    [Show full text]
  • Taxation of Land and Economic Growth
    economies Article Taxation of Land and Economic Growth Shulu Che 1, Ronald Ravinesh Kumar 2 and Peter J. Stauvermann 1,* 1 Department of Global Business and Economics, Changwon National University, Changwon 51140, Korea; [email protected] 2 School of Accounting, Finance and Economics, Laucala Campus, The University of the South Pacific, Suva 40302, Fiji; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +82-55-213-3309 Abstract: In this paper, we theoretically analyze the effects of three types of land taxes on economic growth using an overlapping generation model in which land can be used for production or con- sumption (housing) purposes. Based on the analyses in which land is used as a factor of production, we can confirm that the taxation of land will lead to an increase in the growth rate of the economy. Particularly, we show that the introduction of a tax on land rents, a tax on the value of land or a stamp duty will cause the net price of land to decline. Further, we show that the nationalization of land and the redistribution of the land rents to the young generation will maximize the growth rate of the economy. Keywords: taxation of land; land rents; overlapping generation model; land property; endoge- nous growth Citation: Che, Shulu, Ronald 1. Introduction Ravinesh Kumar, and Peter J. In this paper, we use a growth model to theoretically investigate the influence of Stauvermann. 2021. Taxation of Land different types of land tax on economic growth. Further, we investigate how the allocation and Economic Growth. Economies 9: of the tax revenue influences the growth of the economy.
    [Show full text]
  • Imports in GST Regime (Goods & Services Tax)
    Imports in GST Regime (Goods & Services Tax) Introduction Under the GST regime, Article 269A constitutionally mandates that supply of goods, or of services, or both in the course of import into the territory of India shall be deemed to be supply of goods, or of services, or both in the course of inter-State trade or commerce. So import of goods or services will be treated as deemed inter-State supplies and would be subject to Integrated tax. While IGST on import of services would be leviable under the IGST Act, the levy of the IGST on import of goods would be levied under the Customs Act, 1962 read with the Custom Tariff Act, 1975. The importer of services will have to pay tax on reverse charge basis. However, in respect of import of online information and database access or retrieval services (OIDAR) by unregistered, non-taxable recipients, the supplier located outside India shall be responsible for payment of taxes (IGST). Either the supplier will have to take registration or will have to appoint a person in India for payment of taxes. Supply of goods or services or both to a Special Economic Zone developer or a unit shall be treated as inter-State supply and shall be subject to levy of integrated tax. Directorate General of Taxpayer Services CENTRAL BOARD OF EXCISE & CUSTOMS www.cbec.gov.in Imports in GST Regime (Goods & Services Tax) Importer Exporter Code (IEC): As per DGFT’s Trade Notice No. 09 The taxes will be calculated as under: dated 12.06.2017, the PAN of an entity would be used as the Import Particulars Duty Export code (IEC).
    [Show full text]
  • European Parliament Resolution of 26 March 2019 on Financial Crimes, Tax Evasion and Tax Avoidance (2018/2121(INI)) (2021/C 108/02)
    C 108/8 EN Official Journal of the European Union 26.3.2021 Tuesday 26 March 2019 P8_TA(2019)0240 Report on financial crimes, tax evasion and tax avoidance European Parliament resolution of 26 March 2019 on financial crimes, tax evasion and tax avoidance (2018/2121(INI)) (2021/C 108/02) The European Parliament, — having regard to Articles 4 and 13 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), — having regard to Articles 107, 108, 113, 115 and 116 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), — having regard to its decision of 1 March 2018 on setting up a special committee on financial crimes, tax evasion and tax avoidance (TAX3), and defining its responsibilities, numerical strength and term of office (1), — having regard to its TAXE committee resolution of 25 November 2015 (2) and its TAX2 committee resolution of 6 July 2016 (3) on tax rulings and other measures similar in nature or effect, — having regard to its resolution of 16 December 2015 with recommendations to the Commission on bringing transparency, coordination and convergence to corporate tax policies in the Union (4), — having regard to the results of the Committee of Inquiry into money laundering, tax avoidance and tax evasion, which were submitted to the Council and the Commission on 13 December 2017 (5), — having regard to the Commission’s follow-up to each of the above-mentioned Parliament resolutions (6), — having regard to the numerous revelations by investigative journalists, such as the LuxLeaks, the Panama Papers, the Paradise Papers and, more recently, the cum-ex scandals, as well as the money laundering cases involving, in particular, banks in Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, — having regard to its resolution of 29 November 2018 on the cum-ex scandal: financial crime and loopholes in the current legal framework (7), (1) Decision of 1 March 2018 on setting up a special committee on financial crimes, tax evasion and tax avoidance (TAX3), and defining its responsibilities, numerical strength and term of office, Texts adopted, P8_TA(2018)0048.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecotaxes: a Comparative Study of India and China
    Ecotaxes: A Comparative Study of India and China Rajat Verma ISBN 978-81-7791-209-8 © 2016, Copyright Reserved The Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC) is engaged in interdisciplinary research in analytical and applied areas of the social sciences, encompassing diverse aspects of development. ISEC works with central, state and local governments as well as international agencies by undertaking systematic studies of resource potential, identifying factors influencing growth and examining measures for reducing poverty. The thrust areas of research include state and local economic policies, issues relating to sociological and demographic transition, environmental issues and fiscal, administrative and political decentralization and governance. It pursues fruitful contacts with other institutions and scholars devoted to social science research through collaborative research programmes, seminars, etc. The Working Paper Series provides an opportunity for ISEC faculty, visiting fellows and PhD scholars to discuss their ideas and research work before publication and to get feedback from their peer group. Papers selected for publication in the series present empirical analyses and generally deal with wider issues of public policy at a sectoral, regional or national level. These working papers undergo review but typically do not present final research results, and constitute works in progress. ECOTAXES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF INDIA AND CHINA1 Rajat Verma2 Abstract This paper attempts to compare various forms of ecotaxes adopted by India and China in order to reduce their carbon emissions by 2020 and to address other environmental issues. The study contributes to the literature by giving a comprehensive definition of ecotaxes and using it to analyse the status of these taxes in India and China.
    [Show full text]
  • Paying for Government in South Carolina: a Citizen's Guide
    P Paying for Government in South Carolina A Citizen’s Guide by Holley Hewitt Ulbrich Ada Louise Steirer June 2003 Strom Thurmond Institute of Government and Public Affairs Clemson University Funded by the R.C. Edwards Endowment and the Office of the President Contents ◗ Before You Read This Booklet . Three ◗ The Ideal Revenue System . Five ◗ Answering Tax Questions . Eight ◗ State Sales and Use Taxes . Ten ◗ Local Sales Taxes . Twelve ◗ State and Local Excise Taxes . Fourteen ◗ Local Property Taxes . Sixteen ◗ State Income Tax . Nineteen ◗ Fees and Charges . Twenty-one ◗ What Can a Citizen Do? . Twenty-three About the Authors Dr. Ulbrich is Alumna Professor Emerita of Economics at Clemson University and Senior Fellow of the Strom Thurmond Institute. She has written extensively about tax policy. Ms. Steirer is a research associate in community and economic development at the Institute. Both have experience as elected and appointed officials. The views presented here are not necessarily those of the Strom Thurmond Institute of Government and Public Affairs or of Clemson University. The Institute sponsors research and public service programs to enhance civic awareness of public policy issues and improve the quality of national, state, and local government. The Institute, a public service activity of Clemson University, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, tax-exempt public policy research organization. Before You Read This Booklet the purpose ◗ This booklet has been written to help citizens of South Carolina understand how their state and local tax system works and why we use the revenue sources we do. Understanding how the system works may not change how you feel about taxes.
    [Show full text]