Individual Tax Rates Research Articles

Raising the stakes: How progressive tax rates affect risk‐taking by pass‐through businesses

AbstractWe examine how progressive individual tax rates affect risk‐taking by pass‐through businesses (PTBs). PTBs generate over 60% of US business income and make up roughly 95% of business tax returns, yet there is limited research on how progressive tax rates affect project selection. We study PTBs using the setting of thoroughbred racing and examine how progressive tax rates affect the decision to enter a risky stakes race or a less risky allowance race. This setting provides a unique opportunity to observe the choice between two mutually exclusive projects that differ only in expected payoffs and risk. Using a difference‐in‐differences design surrounding the reduction in progressivity under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, we find that investment in stakes races increases in the United States relative to Canada. We find further evidence of a negative relation between progressive tax rates and risk‐taking using a plausibly exogenous shock in progressivity in California and exploiting cross‐sectional variation in the progressivity of state tax rates. Overall, our findings should be of interest to policy‐makers considering changes to progressive rates. Results indicate that increases to progressive tax rates may discourage risk‐taking by the small businesses that drive economic growth.

The Trump Tax Penalty and Its Impact on the Economy

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was signed into law by former President Donald J. Trump in 2017.The law took effect on January 1, 2018.The law permanently cut the corporate tax rate to 21% and temporarily lowered individual tax rates. Evidence in this paper will demonstrate how an older married couple on Social Security and a modest pension actually incurred higher federal income taxes during the years 2018- 2021 as a result of TCJA. Paying higher federal income taxes as a result of TCJA is the Trump Tax Penalty.

The influence of food tax on island places

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the primary cause of premature mortality in Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs), as well as in numerous other jurisdictions worldwide. The Pacific region has declared an NCD crisis and has recommended the implementation of food taxation policies to address the dietary risk factors associated with these diseases. However, the progress in this regard remains uncertain.The review focused on food taxation policies, including excise taxes and tariffs, that were implemented between 2000 and 2020 in 22 PICTs. The key characteristics of these policies were examined. The search for relevant information was conducted using databases, government legal repositories, and broad-based search engines. The identified documents for screening included legislation, reports, academic literature, news articles, and grey literature. Additionally, key informants from each PICT were contacted to gather further data and validate the findings. The results were analyzed through narrative synthesis. Out of the 22 PICTs included in the study, 14 had implemented food taxation policies, and 5 had introduced excise taxes. Processed foods, sugar, and salt were the primary targets of these excise taxes. A total of 84 changes in food taxation policies were identified across all food groups. Among these changes, a total of 279 taxes were identified based on food groups, with 85% being tariffs and 15% being excise taxes. The individual tax rates varied significantly. The most common tax design was ad valorem, followed by volumetric.

A Curious Concession? Australia’s Withholding Tax Exemption for Franked Dividends

This article considers the tax treatment of dividends paid by Australian companies to non-resident shareholders, which benefit from a withholding tax exemption to the extent that the dividend is “franked” under Australia’s imputation system. The article considers the appropriateness of maintaining the withholding tax exemption now that more than 35 years have passed since the imputation system was introduced in Australia in 1987. It examines the original rationale for introducing the exemption and questions whether that rationale remains valid in 2023, given changes to corporate and individual tax rates in the intervening periods. The article also notes that to a potentially significant extent, the ongoing availability of this concession benefits foreign revenue authorities where non-resident shareholders live in countries which maintain a “classical” approach to taxation of dividends and allow credits for foreign withholding tax to be offset against tax liabilities in the country of residence. The article concludes that a comprehensive policy-based review of the concession is long overdue, that removal or modification of the exemption should be considered, and that the potential additional Australian tax revenue resulting from changes to the concession could be significant.

Modelling Wealth and Wealth Inequality in Bulgaria

This paper analyses net wealth and net wealth inequality determinants in Bulgaria, for the 2000-2020 period. The econometric results suggest that the introduction of corporate and individual flat tax rates in 2007 and 2008 contribute to households’ net wealth creation but have no significant association with inequality variables. Interest rates on mortgage loans, cost of debt, budget surpluses and inflation have a negative association with wealth, while the value of houses, arable land, equity, interest income, budget deficits contribute to net wealth growth. The top percentile increases its wealth share supported by the value of houses, equity and positive current account to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) values, however the cost of debt and GDP per capita are in a negative association with top percentile inequality. The bottom half of the population increases its wealth share with higher GDP per capita values and higher consumer loans rates, however inflation affects it negatively. Inflation and investment income are in a positive association with the Gini coefficient, while interest rates on consumer loans, cost of debt, GDP per capita, Government revenues, dividend income, equity, and the value of houses reduce inequality.

Food tax policies in Pacific Island Countries and Territories: systematic policy review.

To systematically identify and review food taxation policy changes in Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). Food taxation polices, regarding excise taxes and tariffs applied from 2000 to 2020 in twenty-two PICTs, and their key characteristics were reviewed. The search was conducted using databases, government legal repositories and broad-based search engines. Identified documents for screening included legislation, reports, academic literature, news articles and grey literature. Key informants were contacted from each PICT to retrieve further data and confirm results. Results were analysed by narrative synthesis. Noncommunicable diseases (NCD) are the leading cause of premature death in PICTs and in many jurisdictions globally. An NCD crisis has been declared in the Pacific, and food taxation policy has been recommended to address the dietary risk factors associated with. Progress is unclear. Of the twenty-two PICTs included in the study, fourteen had food taxation policies and five introduced excise taxes. Processed foods, sugar and salt were the main target of excise taxes. A total of eighty-four food taxation policy changes were identified across all food groups. There was a total of 279 taxes identified by food group, of which 85 % were tariffs and 15 % were excise taxes. Individual tax rates varied substantially. The predominant tax design was ad valorem, and this was followed by volumetric. A quarter of PICTs have introduced food excise taxes from 2000 to 2020. Further excise taxes, specifically tiered or nutrient-specific designs, could be introduced and more systematically applied to a broader range of unhealthy foods.

Maintaining Progresiveness of Personal Income Tax Rates in The Indonesian Income Tax Law

This research is related to the argumentation of the plans of several tax authorities, including the Indonesian authorities, to increase the personal income tax rate. The imposition of taxes through increased individual tax rates is one way for post-Covid-19 funding. The increase in tax rates is considered not to pose a risk to consumption or the principle of tax equity. This study uses a descriptive quantitative research method that tries to explain the planned increase in tax rates by the Indonesian tax authorities is by international trends or practices, the principle of justice, and taxpayer behavior. The comparison of the taxable lower limit, rate, GDP Per Capita, PKP Upper Limit, Number of Taxable Layers, and the impact of changes in individual tax rates are used to explain this research. The G-20 and ASEAN countries were selected based on the GDP per Capita scheme and geographical proximity. This study aims to answer the relevance of the implication of imposing progressive rates with Indonesian conditions, the plan to increase tax rates for Personal Income Tax and increase the number of taxable layers. The review of the threshold of taxable income also gets a portion of this research as well. This study also reviewed the rate mantaing from 30% to return to the 35% rate. The results of the study show that the wishes of the Indonesian tax authorities are in line with trends in state financing after the Covid-19 pandemic. This rate increase is not without risk. This rate increase will have implications for changes in the behavior of individual taxpayers who are affected by regulatory changes. The plan to change the individual tax structure should also consider the principles of fairness, progressiveness, general principles of tax reform, and changes in the behavior of taxpayers who are affected by regulatory changes. Changes in tax rates should increase taxpayer voluntary compliance.

THE PARALLEL MARCH OF THE GINIS How does taxation relate to inequality, and what can be done about it?

THE PARALLEL MARCH OF THE GINIS How does taxation relate to inequality, and what can be done about it?

Partnership Securities

The convergence of the individual and corporate tax rates and the repeal of the General Utilities doctrine have increased the cost of doing business in corporate form and the attractiveness of operating a business as a partnership. That attractiveness has been reinforced by the growing availability of limited liability companies. The proliferation of partnerships has increased the interest in partnerships' issuing securities similar to those issued by corporations-capital interests, options and profits interests that are the partnership equivalent of "stock appreciation rights." However, there has been little discussion of the tax consequences of partnerships issuing securities apart from the long-standing debate as to whether the recipient of a partnership profits interest for services should be subject to tax. That debate has been resolved, as a practical matter, by Revenue Procedure 93-27, in which the Internal Revenue Service ruled that, subject to certain exceptions, the receipt of profits interests for services is not taxable. This resolution makes timely an analysis of the consequences to the partnership and other partners of a partnership's issuance of partnership securities.This article, through a series of examples, considers the possible consequences under current law of the receipt by a partner of a capital interest, an option and a profits interest for either cash or services. These consequences differ depending on whether a partnership is viewed as an entity or aggregate. The article recommends the adoption of an entity approach that permits the consequences of a partnership's issuance of securities to resemble those of corporate issuances. This recommendation requires reconsidering the accepted view of the tax consequences of a partnership's issuing a capital interest for services.

Tax Planning of Individual Income Tax under the New Individual Income Tax Law

Since January 1, 2019, our country's individual income tax has implemented a collection system combining classification and synthesis. Great changes have taken place in the new individual tax collection methods, tax items, tax rates and deductions, how to carry on the individual income tax planning under the new individual income tax law appears to be particularly important. Therefore, this article intends to study the changes of the new personal income tax law from the aspects of the collection method, tax items, tax rates and deductions, and analyze the effects of these changes on the planning of personal income tax, and propose the planning scheme of personal income tax from different angles, reduce personal income tax burden, reduce tax expenditure, increase personal income after tax.

Tax In History: Transition from Soviet Union’s Tax Regime to Estonia’s Own Tax System

Dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 resulted in regaining independence for many countries, including Estonia. This caused the urgent need for the country to design its own tax system together with drafting all of the relevant legal acts and implementing them in practice. Both the Estonian Parliament and Government (although both were inherited from the Soviet Union regime, the parliament had not yet been elected by Estonian citizens) initiated this work already in 1990–1991 when the first value added tax (VAT) regulations, personal income tax, and corporate income tax laws were adopted. Significant change has occurred since June 1992 when the referendum on the adoption of the Estonian Constitution was held. According to it, all taxes would need to be stipulated in tax laws approved by the parliament which, thus far, had not often been the case. The next qualitative step was made in 1994 when tax laws that were more advanced entered into force. At that time, Estonia introduced a single flat tax rate for both individuals and companies (having the same flat tax rate both for individuals and companies has enabled Estonia to fully tax fringe benefits (non-monetary income from employment) at the employer level without any need to personalize the exact value of benefit received by each employee.). The corporate income tax system was further redesigned in 2000 when Estonia became the first country in the world where retained profits of companies remain untaxed until they are distributed to shareholders. Estonia, taxation, tax reform, flat tax, value added tax, tax treaties, corporate income tax, Estonian CIT model.

The Role of Conduit Countries and Tax Havens in Corporate Tax Avoidance

Traditional tax havens and conduit countries have different economic and tax characteristics. This paper shows that conduit countries are larger economies, have higher statutory and effective tax rates, have more bilateral treaties and are more transparent. Because of these characteristics, other countries apply lower withholding taxes on income flows to conduit countries compared to tax havens and do not apply CFC-rules on profit income generated in conduit countries. I assess quantitatively the role of tax havens and conduit countries in international corporate tax avoidance taking account of the literature on corporate tax revenue losses, treaty shopping and phantom investment. I allocate the global tax revenues losses due to profit shifting and treaty shopping to individual countries, using GDP, tax rates, FDI positions and FDI income. Traditional tax havens are only responsible for a small part of corporate tax avoidance. Conduit countries are involved in a much larger share, in particular on treaty shopping. A large share of the profit shifting losses is also due to different tax arrangements between other developed countries.

Налоговая культура и справедливость в зеркале социологического опроса

The author of this article conducted a sociological study in order to answer questions about the extent to which Russian taxpayers are aware of the priorities and main directions of the state’s distribution policy, as well as the basics of the tax system. Among the main results of the study are the following conclusions of the author: more than half of the respondents assess the tax policy of the state as inefficient and unfair. 75 % of respondents believe that a flat tax scale does not ensure social justice and a fair distribution of income. More than 74 % of respondents support the introduction of a progressive tax rate for individuals, considering such a measure as necessary to ensure social justice.

The Appropriate Roles for Equity and Efficiency in a Progressive Individual Income Tax

Increased focus on economic efficiency in formulating tax policy, at the expense of achieving equity, has resulted in decreased rate progressivity in our individual income tax. This decrease has exacerbated inequality.
 There are several explanations for the intense focus on efficiency and reduced emphasis on equity. Predictions of efficiency gains from low individual income tax rates appear more certain than equity gains from progressive tax rates. Efficiency gains seem measurable, while equity gains appear intangible and unquantifiable. In addition, distributive justice, which underlies and shapes tax equity, exists in many abstract forms, some of which may not require progressive tax rates.
 This Article argues, however, that the emphasis on efficiency is misplaced. Inequality imposes measurable costs on the health, social well-being, and intergenerational mobility of our citizens, as well as on our democratic process. This is corroborated by significant empirical analysis.
 In contrast, empirical analysis shows that anticipated efficiency gains from low individual tax rates are speculative. A consensus exists among economists that taxes within the historical range of rates in the United States have little or no impact on labor supply. Moreover, economists cannot agree whether the myriad empirical studies on savings indicate that progressive tax rates decrease, increase, or have no impact on savings in the United States.
 The clear harms arising from inequality and the uncertain harms arising from progressive tax rates, strongly support always giving equity at least equal weight with efficiency in formulating tax policy. But given the high level of inequality in the United States and the currently low and flat tax rate structure, equity should be given more weight than efficiency at this time. Emphasizing equity in a progressive individual income tax will contribute to the health and economic mobility of our citizens, as well as the stability of our democracy.

FDI Environment in China: A Critical Analysis

Investors prefer to invest in assets and places that offer attractive returns and are relatively less risky. China is one of the countries with the highest economic growth and is trying to attract investors from all corners of the world to invest and participate in the growth of China. The main objectives of this study are to evaluate the position of China as a destination for FDI, the factors that attract FDI into China, and the factors that hinder the flow of FDI into China. It also proposes to examine whether the attractiveness of China is increasing or is it on the decline and the rationale behind it. This study is based on secondary data, covers a period of five years, and analysis various determinants of FDI. The study reveals that China has the potential, political stability, and an organized financial system, but its market has started to shrink as the population growth is declining, the labor cost is increasing, labor market efficiency is decreasing, economic growth and infrastructure developments are decelerating, and corporate and individual tax rates are high.

Financial and monetary policy of the State and its impact on the income level and poverty reduction in Russia

Subject. We assess the impact of tight financial and monetary policy of the government of the Russian Federation and the Bank of Russia on the level of household income and poverty reduction in Russia. Objectives. The purpose of the study is to analyze the results of financial and monetary policy in Russia and determine why the situation with household income and poverty has not changed for the recent six years, and the GDP growth rate in Russia is significantly lagging behind the global average. Methods. The study employs methods of analysis of scientific and information base, and synthesis of obtained data. The methodology and theoretical framework draw upon works of domestic and foreign scientists on economic and financial support to economy and population’s income. Results. We offer measures for liberalization of the financial and monetary policy of the government and the Central Bank to ensure changes in the structure of the Russian economy. The proposed alternative economic and financial policy of the State will enable the growth of real incomes of the population, poverty reduction by half by 2024, and annual GDP growth up to 6 per cent. Conclusions. It is crucial to change budget priorities, increase the salaries of public employees, introduce a progressive tax rate for individuals; to reduce the key rate to the value of annual inflation and limit the bank margin. The country needs a phased program to increase the population's income, which will ensure consumer demand.

Pengaruh Sosialisasi Perpajakan, Pengetahuan Perpajakan, Kualitas Pelayanan Fiskus dan Minat Penerapan E-Filling pada Kepatuhan WPOP

The purpose of this research is to find out the effect of socialization taxation, taxation knowledge, service quality, and behavioral intention of using E-Filing at the South Badung Pratama Tax Office. The population in this research were all taxpayers registered at the KPP South Badung. There were 100 respondents used as a sample in this research from 45.326 people who were still effective at the South Badung Pratama Tax Officer. This research instrument uses a questionary method and for data analysis techniques are used multiple linear regression analysis. The Slovin formula with an incidental sampling technique was used to calculate the sample. The results of the research show that socialization taxation, taxation knowledge, service quality, and behavioral intention of using E-Filing are positive for the individual taxpayer tax rate.
 Keywords: Socialization; Knowledge; Service Quality; E-Filling, Taxpayer Compliance.

The Appropriate Roles for Equity and Efficiency in a Progressive Income Tax

Increased focus on economic efficiency in formulating tax policy, at the expense of achieving equity, has resulted in decreased rate progressivity in our individual income tax. This decrease has exacerbated inequality. There are several explanations for the intense focus on efficiency and reduced emphasis on equity. Predictions of efficiency gains from low individual income tax rates appear more certain than equity gains from progressive tax rates. Efficiency gains seem measurable, while equity gains appear intangible and unquantifiable. In addition, distributive justice, which underlies and shapes tax equity, exists in many abstract forms, some of which may not require progressive tax rates. This Article argues, however, that the emphasis on efficiency is misplaced. Inequality imposes measurable costs on the health, social well-being, and intergenerational mobility of our citizens, as well as on our democratic process. This is corroborated by significant empirical analysis. In contrast, empirical analysis shows that anticipated efficiency gains from low individual tax rates are speculative. A consensus exists among economists that taxes within the historical range of rates in the United States have little or no impact on labor supply. Moreover, economists cannot agree whether the myriad empirical studies on savings indicate that progressive tax rates decrease, increase, or have no impact on savings in the United States. The clear harms arising from inequality and the uncertain harms arising from progressive tax rates, strongly support always giving equity at least equal weight with efficiency in formulating tax policy. But given the high level of inequality in the United States and the currently low and flat tax rate structure, equity should be given more weight than efficiency at this time. Emphasizing equity in a progressive individual income tax will contribute to the health and economic mobility of our citizens, as well as the stability of our democracy

Debt Incentives and Bank Risk‐Taking

AbstractWe examine how executive pension and deferred compensation plans affect bank risk‐taking. We show that banks with more inside debt incentives are 5–6% less likely to approve risky mortgages. Using state individual tax rates as instruments, we show that the effect is likely to be causal. Further evidence shows that the effect comes mainly from executive pension plans. This result is robust and statistically significant after controlling for other potential reasons affecting mortgage origination and various fixed effects.

Debt Incentives and Bank Risk-Taking

We examine how executive pension and deferred compensation plans affect bank risk-taking. We show that banks with more inside debt incentives are 5-8% less likely to approve risky mortgages. Using state individual tax rates as instruments, we show that the effect is likely to be causal. Further evidence shows that the effect comes mainly from executive pension plans. This result is robust and statistically significant after controlling for other potential reasons affecting mortgage origination and various fixed effects.