Indian Tax System Research Articles

Responsiveness of the Indian Tax System: A Time Series Analysis from 1990 to 2010

The post reform period in Indian fiscal system needed to assess the impact of reforms as regards tax buoyancy and elasticity of Indian tax system in pre GST exercise. This paper studies the variation in buoyancy of the following taxes: Corporation Tax, Income Tax, Customs tax, Union Excise Duty. It also attempts to study the elasticities of the above mentioned taxes by eliminating the impact of discretionary changes.

Issues in Reforms of Union Taxes in India

The correction of fiscal imbalances in India should focus on the root cause of disequilibrium – the government not being able to balance its consumption outlays with revenue receipts. Restructuring of public expenditure seems to be very difficult under the present circumstances. Hence, significant improvement will hinge increasingly on improvement in revenue collection through direct and indirect taxes. There is need for comprehensive reforms in direct and indirect taxes through decisive action in many crucial areas rather than marginal improvement on all fronts. Broadening of the tax base is necessary to ensure growth of revenue. In direct taxes, there is a need to analyse the extent to which taxpayers actually belong to the higher slabs than they reveal in their tax returns and non-filers should be brought into the tax net. In the case of central excise and service tax, there is need to build a strong mechanism to ensure filing of returns by all registered taxpayers. To improve tax collections, it would be desirable to ask firms and companies to pay tax in equal instalments and adopt ‘family’ as a unit of assessment. The exemption/threshold limit should not be raised from the present level and Indian tax system should have smooth progression The Indian tax system incorporates a number of tax preferences/incentives to promote different activities which result in huge tax expenditure in case of both direct and indirect taxes. Tax expenditures, despite their drawbacks, need to be retained in the Indian tax system. However, they should be well targeted and be linked to performances. There is also a need to check the problem of increasing tax avoidance and evasion through stricter imposition of penalties and following of vigorous prosecution policy. Efficient tax administration calls for building up of a professional cadre of administrators who may implement the tax system more equitably and efficiently. It is desirable that voluntary compliance be encouraged and non-compliance be penalized. There is need to minimize arrears of assessment and collection, pendency of appeals, issue quick refunds, and so on. The main challenge at the present juncture is to integrate the large number of Central and State taxes to address the problem of multiplicity of taxes. The introduction of the Goods and Service Tax would be a significant step in the field of indirect tax reform in India and pave the way for a national common market.

Problems and prospects of Indian tax system development: industrial context

Problems and prospects of Indian tax system development: industrial context

A Study into the Nature and Consequences of Tax Evasion with Special Reference to India

Tax evasion is a serious problem in developing countries which are in the process of evolving their tax systems. The major causes of tax evasion include high level of tax rates, apathy towards government and its laws, and lenient penal action. Widespread tax evasion is a perennial problem of the Indian tax system. The paper looks at the history of taxation law amendments in India which is essentially a history of plugging loopholes, as and when discovered, to prevent leakages of revenue. To fight the evil of black money and tax evasion in India, some of the important measures taken include reduction in tax rates, minimisation of controls and licences, regulation of donations to political parties, creating confidence among small taxpayers, substitution of sales tax by excise duty, vigorous prosecution policy and compulsory maintenance of accounts.

Tax System in India-Evolution and Present Structure

<bold>Main findings of the book</bold> The Indian tax system has undergone major structural changes since Independence in 1947. It has become comprehensive and complicated over the years. It has successfully mobilised resources to finance developmental, welfare and administrative activities of public authorities. Besides being the main source of revenue, both for the Central and State Governments, it is an effective instrument to realise various socio-economic objectives of national policies. However, the tax system has been relying heavily on indirect taxes and suffering extensively from fiscal malady called tax evasion. Restructuring of the tax system has constituted a major component of fiscal reforms initiated since 1991. The main focus of the tax reforms has been on simplification and rationalization of both direct and indirect taxes with the objective of augmenting revenues and removing anomalies in the tax structure. Tax reforms in recent years have brought the tax system much closer to international tax practices. Tax reforms are a part of the package to liberalise and globalise the Indian economy. The post-1991 period has witnessed a sharp decline in the rates of income tax, excise duty and customs tariff. The theory that high rates of duty lead to higher revenue collection has been discarded in favour of lower rates with fewer exemptions and concessions. The strategy in respect of direct taxation is to minimise distortions in tax structure by expanding the tax base and moderating tax rates on the one hand and improving the efficiency of tax administration and increasing the deterrence level on the other, so as to encourage voluntary compliance. The strategy in respect of indirect taxes is to move towards a fully integrated goods and services tax (GST).

National Level Goods and Services Tax (GST): Towards Cooperative Federalism

The GST has been an initiative that has commanded broad consensus across the political spectrum. It has also been a model of cooperative federalism in practice with the Centre and states coming together as partners in embracing growth and employment-enhancing reforms. It is a reform that is long awaited and its implementation will validate expectations of important government actions and effective political will. Given the historic opportunity afforded by the GST, the aim should be to clean up an Indian tax system that has effectively become an <italic>exemptions raj</italic> with serious consequences for revenues and governance. By improving efficiency as well as revenues, GST can add substantially to growth as well as helping government finances.

An Analysis of Socio-Economic Objectives of India’s Tax Policy

The Indian tax system has successfully mobilised resources to finance administrative, welfare and developmental activities of public authorities. Besides being the main source of revenue for both Central and State Governments, it is an effective instrument to realise various socio-economic objectives of national policies. Further, tax policy is an important determinant of the investment climate in a country. This paper looks at the socio-economic objectives that the tax policy intends to achieve along with the steps taken to restructure the tax system in accordance with these objectives. Tax laws in India are replete with various exemptions, concessions, deductions, allowances, tax credits etc. to promote a host of desirable economic and social activities. These tax incentives encourage individuals and business entities to undertake activities desired by the government.

Tax Reforms in India since 1991: An Overview

When the Indian economy faced an unprecedented macroeconomic crisis in 1991, fiscal consolidation constituted a major objective of the policy response. For this purpose, it became necessary to: (a) enhance tax and non-tax revenue, (b) curtail current expenditure growth, (c) restructure public sector undertakings, including disinvestment, (d) improve fiscal-monetary co-ordination, and (e) deregulate financial system. The need for improvements in budgetary practices led to the enactment of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, 2003 which ushered the Indian economy in an era of fiscal consolidation based on fiscal policy rules. Tax reforms introduced by the Government since 1991 have helped to build a structure which is simple, relies on moderate tax rates but with a wider base and better enforcement. Moreover, they have helped in correcting structural imbalances in the tax system. They are soft on industry with a view to create new investment climate and make India internationally competitive. By lowering the tax rates, the Government expects speedy industrial development and hence buoyancy in tax revenues. The country is keenly awaiting implementation of Direct Taxes Code (DTC) and National Level Goods and Services Tax (GST). GST is India’s most ambitious indirect tax reform. Lack of political consensus is holding up progress and implementation of GST. This paper gives a vivid account of recent reforms in the Indian tax system as a part of the on-going policy of liberalization and globalization of the Indian economy.

Indian Tax System, Economic Development in the Context of BRIC

Indian Tax System, Economic Development in the Context of BRIC

The Tax System in India

This paper assesses the effects of India's tax system on growth, through the level and productivity of private investment. Comparison of India's indicators of effective tax rates and tax revenue productivity with other countries shows that the Indian tax system is characterized by: (1) a high dependence on indirect taxes, (2) low average effective tax rates and tax productivity, and (3) high marginal effective tax rates and large tax-induced distortions on investment and financing decisions. The paper finds that the most recently proposed package of reforms would improve tax productivity and lower the marginal tax burden and tax-induced distortions. But firms that rely on internal sources of funds or face problems borrowing would continue to face high marginal tax rates.

The Tax System in India: Could Reform Spur Growth?

This paper assesses the effects of India's tax system on growth, through the level and productivity of private investment. Comparison of India's indicators of effective tax rates and tax revenue productivity with other countries shows that the Indian tax system is characterized by: (1) a high dependence on indirect taxes, (2) low average effective tax rates and tax productivity, and (3) high marginal effective tax rates and large tax-induced distortions on investment and financing decisions. The paper finds that the most recently proposed package of reforms would improve tax productivity and lower the marginal tax burden and tax-induced distortions. But firms that rely on internal sources of funds or face problems borrowing would continue to face high marginal tax rates.

Tax system reform in India: Achievements and challenges ahead

Indian tax system has come a long way from the narrow based, complicated and confiscatory to the one that is far more efficient. Over the years, the thrust and direction of reforms have been to improve revenue productivity while minimising distortions. The reform to convert the state level sales tax into VAT this year is a major initiative. The recent focus on tax administration promises rich dividends. Despite reforms since 1991, much remains to be done to make the tax system broad-based, productive and efficient. In corporate tax, excise, customs and sales taxes, revenue concentration on diesel and petrol has high efficiency costs. The personal income tax continues to be narrow based. Reform in the sales tax has only just begun and a lot remain to be done to evolve destination-based retail VAT. The reforms in tax administration promise increased revenues and, hopefully, that will provide the elbow room necessary for calibrating future reforms.

Tax Policy in India

The tax reforms of recent years in India are based on Chelliah’s recommendations of simple broad-based taxes with a moderate and limited number of rates. The reduction in direct tax rates in the economy has not only increased revenue collection but also accelerated economic growth. This article aims to investigate the effect of India’s tax policy on private capital formation. A time series analysis of data for the economy for the period 1950–51 to 1994–95 reveals that a one percent increase in the direct tax ratio has led to a reduction of 0.12 percent in the ratio of private capital formation to GDP. The article also examines whether there is any gain in opting for an expenditure tax to promote savings and capital formation in the economy. The major problem facing the Indian direct tax system is evasion of income taxes. The article concludes that an expenditure tax is a powerful tool to combat evasion

Restructuring the Indian Tax System

Restructuring the Indian Tax System

Interstate Tax Disharmony in India: A Comparative Perspective

Interstate tax disharmony arisingfrom the states' attempt to 'free-ride on other states can cause distortions and inequity in a federal system. In this article, an attempt is made to analyze interstate disharmony in the Indian tax system, provide a quantitative measure of disharmony, examine its trend over time, and compare the degree of disharmony in India with three other importantfederations. The major conclusions are that (1) India has a higher degree of interstate tax disharmony than Australia, Canada, and the United States; (2) tax disharmony in India has increased over time unlike in the other three federations; and (3) tax disharmony in respect of individual state taxes is higher than the taxes taken in aggregate.