Average marginal tax rates in the UK economy

Abstract

Using a known methodology, this paper calculates the average tax rate (ATR) and three different average marginal tax rate (AMTR) measures for the UK. The three different AMTR measures are greater than the ATR in the same year because of the progressive tax system in the UK. Barro's AMTR measure weighted by total income is greater than Barro's AMTR measure weighted by number of returns because of the unequal distribution of income, and Barro's AMTR measure weighted by total income exceeds Seater's AMTR measure because total income before tax in Seater's AMTR measure is greater than total income after tax in Barro's AMTR measure.