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Europe > Ireland

You are looking at 1 - 10 of 10 items for :

  • Type: Journal Issue x
  • Personal Finance -Taxation x
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Cover IMF Working Papers
Guaranteed Minimum Income Schemes in Europe: Landscape and Design
Mr. David Coady
,
Samir Jahan
,
Baoping Shang
, and
Riki Matsumoto
This paper provides an overview of the design of means-tested Guaranteed Minimum Income schemes, which constitute an important component of social protection systems in European countries. It discusses how key design features differ across countries, including how countries balance the primary objective of poverty alleviation against the desire to both manage the work disincentives inherent in such programs and contain fiscal cost. The analysis finds a clear trade-off between both concerns in practice, with many countries combining low generosity with low benefit withdrawal rates (BWRs) thus prioritizing employment incentives over the primary objective of poverty alleviation. Many countries can reduce this trade off by combining higher generosity with higher BWRs. Countries with very high BWRs should consider reducing these, including through allowing income disregards and time dependent (rather than income-dependent) benefit withdrawal. The work disincentives associated with higher BWRs can also be attenuated through strengthening complementary activation policies that incentivize and support participation in the labor market.
Keywords:
work disincentive; activation policy; Labor disincentive; Guaranteed Minimum Income scheme; benefit generosity; GMI scheme; Income; Employment; Wages; Labor markets; Tax allowances; Europe
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Ireland: Selected Issues
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
This Selected Issues paper examines the past and present impact of personal income tax reform in Ireland. Personal income in Ireland is taxed under two distinct schemes. Changes in Ireland’s personal income taxation have been procyclical and created vulnerabilities to public finances. The reduction in personal income taxes during the boom has been broad based, albeit more for low-income taxpayers. With somewhat shrinking corporate profits during the crisis, personal income taxation was increased. The reformed income tax would reduce the vulnerability of public finances to interplay of corporate (CIT) revenues and reduce procyclicality. A robust, stable income tax system performs a stabilizing role over the business cycle, while the additional CIT revenues during booms could be saved as buffers to be used for smoothing downturns or to reduce the still high public debt. Post-2014, income taxes have been reduced again, fueling the recovery in domestic demand. The Income Tax could be further amended to enhance incentives to work, while safeguarding the progressivity of the system.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; income tax; asset; tax rate; Ireland; payer; personal income income tax; asset exposure; tax yield; sector assets; portfolio survey; asset quality; OFI asset; Income tax systems; Personal income tax; Mutual funds; Personal income; Financial sector; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Iceland: Selected Issues Paper
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
This Selected Issues paper examines implications of capital account liberalization in Iceland. Capital controls were critical in 2008 to avoid a more severe collapse of the Icelandic economy. Six years later, capital inflows have been liberalized, but most outflows remain restricted. Iceland has used the breathing room to reduce flow and stock vulnerabilities, strengthen institutions, and prepare for the lifting of capital controls. Simulations using the central bank’s Quarterly Macroeconomic Model (QMM) suggest that, compared with the 2008 crisis episode, the economy can better withstand the impact of an abrupt removal of capital controls. However, the outcome would be dependent on a number of factors, including resident depositor behavior.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; Iceland; financial crisis; saving; investment; statistics Iceland; current account balance; FCI component; credit condition; saving rate; Housing prices; Personal income tax; Private savings; Global; East Asia; Europe
Cover IMF Working Papers
Fiscal Devaluation in a Monetary Union
Philipp Engler
,
Mr. Giovanni Ganelli
,
Juha Tervala
, and
Simon Voigts
Using a DSGE model calibrated to the euro area, we analyze the international effects of a fiscal devaluation (FD) implemented as a revenue-neutral shift from employer's social contributions to the Value Added Tax. We find that a FD in ‘Southern European countries’ has a strong positive effect on output, but mild effects on the trade balance and the real exchange rate. Since the benefits of a FD are small relative to the divergence in competitiveness, it is best addressed through structural reforms.
Keywords:
WP; Southern European countries; expenditure switching; Fiscal devaluation; fiscal policy; euro area; currency union; current account; output effect; Southern European countries of the Southern European countries; trade balance effect; open economy; expenditure switching effect; households in Southern European countries; imperfect competition; fiscal devaluation in Southern European countries; deficit in Southern European countries; devaluation in Southern European countries; Value-added tax; Trade balance; Consumption; Personal income tax; Southern Europe
Cover Fiscal Monitor, October 2013
Fiscal Monitor, October 2013
Taxing Times
International Monetary Fund. Fiscal Affairs Dept.

Abstract

Persistently high debt ratios in advanced economies and emerging fragilities in the developing world cast clouds on the global fiscal landscape. In advanced economies, with narrowing budget deficits, the average public debt ratio is expected to stabilize in 2013–14—but it will be at a historic peak. At the same time, fiscal vulnerabilities are on the rise in emerging market economies and low-income countries—on the back, in emerging market economies, of heightened financial volatility and downward revisions to potential growth, and in low-income countries, of possible shortfalls in commodity prices and aid. Strengthening fiscal balances and buttressing confidence thus remain at the top of the policy agenda. Against that backdrop, this issue explores whether and how tax reform can help strengthen public finances. Taxation is always a sensitive topic and is now more than ever at the center of policy debates around the world. Can countries tax more, better, more fairly? Results reported in this issue show that the scope to raise more revenue is limited in many advanced economies and, where tax ratios are already high, the bulk of the necessary adjustment will have to fall on spending. In emerging market economies and low-income countries, where the potential for raising revenue is often substantial, improving compliance remains a central challenge.

Keywords:
FM; background color; IMF staff estimate; potential GDP; spending; public health spending; spending increase; revenue gap; tax ratio; benefit tax; Fiscal stance; Macroeconomic and fiscal forecasts; Africa; Asia and Pacific; Global; Middle East; North Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; value-added tax; interest rate; short-term debt; Income and capital gains taxes; Personal income tax; Caribbean; Europe
Cover IMF Working Papers
Causes, Benefits, and Risks of Business Tax Incentives
Mr. Alexander D Klemm
This paper provides an updated overview of tax incentives for business investment. It begins by noting 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 other 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.
Keywords:
WP; accelerated depreciation; investment allowance; capital stock; crowding out; requiring repeat investment; Tax incentives; tax competition; effective tax rates; cost of capital; tax liability; open economy; post-tax rate of return; single tax; taxed investment; corporate tax tax rate; business tax incentives; Tax holidays; Corporate income tax; Tax allowances; Depreciation; Global; Central America; Caribbean
Cover IMF Working Papers
Tax Policy: Recent Trends and Coming Challenges
Tehmina S. Khan
and
Mr. John Norregaard
This paper provides an overview of the key economic factors that shape tax policy reform in many high-income countries, developing countries, and/or transition economies. The paper describes and evaluates global and regional developments with respect to tax rates and revenue ratios over the last some 20 years, and discusses selected structural reform initiatives that have been high on the policy agenda over this period. In particular, it focuses on developments relating to experiments with the restructuring of corporate tax, the impact of corporate taxes on FDI, key reform initiatives including dual income taxes and flat taxes, as well as the worldwide spread of the VAT and policy developments associated with climate change and natural resource taxation.
Keywords:
WP; income tax; flat tax; tax burden; indirect tax; withholding tax
Cover IMF Working Papers
Tax Incentives in The Philippines: A Regional Perspective
Mr. Nigel A Chalk
The Philippines is faced with a policy dilemma in the area of corporate taxation. On the one hand, the country has, over the past few years, witnessed a decline in revenue as a share of output. On the other, it is operating in an increasingly competitive regional market for foreign direct investment. In order to remain competitive, the Philippines offers a broad array of fiscal incentives to entice inward investment and pursue the country's development goals. This paper looks at the fiscal incentives available in the Philippines, compares them with those available in the ASEAN region, and with the evidence on the efficacy of tax incentives in a global context. The paper provides some broad conclusions on the use of the various forms of tax incentives in the Philippines and on their administration.
Keywords:
WP; import duty; investment incentive; personal income; accelerated depreciation; double taxation; duty drawback; investment decision; corporate tax incentives. ASEAN.; location decision; SEZ enterprise; companies expense; economic zone; footloose company; Tax incentives; Tax holidays; Corporate income tax; Tax allowances; Investment incentives; Global
Cover IMF Working Papers
Gender Bias in Tax Systems
Ms. Janet Gale Stotsky
This paper examines the nature of gender bias in tax systems. Gender bias takes both explicit and implicit forms. Explicit gender bias is found in many personal income tax systems. Several countries, especially those in Western Europe, have undertaken to eliminate explicit gender bias in recent years. It is more difficult to identify implicit gender bias, since this depends in large part on value judgments as to desirable social and economic behavior. Implicit gender bias has also been a target for reform of tax systems in recent years.
Keywords:
WP; gender bias; income; explicit gender bias; tax preference; income taxation; b. gender bias; benefits in Sweden; tax subject; labor income; personal income tax system; tax regulation; gender bias in tax systems; tax liability; United States income tax; c. gender bias; Personal income; Gender inequality; Income tax systems; Women; Personal income tax; Global
Cover Tax Policy Handbook
Tax Policy Handbook

Abstract

Edited by Parthasarathi Shome, this Handbook was written primarily for economists who are responsible for analyzing and evaluating economic policies of developing countries at an applied level, and who would benefit from a comprehensive discussion of the concepts, principles, and prevailing issues of taxation.

Keywords:
BOOK; tax structure; tax burden; tax revenue; excise tax; government finance statistics; trade tax; OECD Western Hemisphere country; total revenue; proportional tax; cost of capital; Income tax systems; Personal income; Income and capital gains taxes; Value-added tax; Corporate income tax; Global; Western Hemisphere; Eastern Europe; Middle East; Europe; Africa