Tax is one of the important sources of government revenue, and the headline tax burden has an immediate impact on citizens’ pockets. Looking around the world, for a long time, economists have deemed a 15-25 percent flat tax as optimal, providing a range that strikes an acceptable balance between government revenue and a reasonable tax burden.
While there is no single formula for a country to pick the most suitable tax rate, several factors must be taken into consideration. These include the citizens’ perceptions, the impact on government revenue, the effect on investment and growth, the possible shifts between tax brackets, and so on. To help with this process, we’ll compare the fiscal systems of several countries with different fiscal regimes and consider the various merits and flaws of each.
For our purposes, the most attractive fiscal system can be considered the most “favorable” one: one that levies low tax rates, determines an appropriate level of revenue, and sets an attractive economic climate. Let’s begin our look at fiscal regimes by considering the fiscal policies of three countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.
One of the most appealing fiscal regimes in the world currently is that of the United States. The top rate of the personal income tax in the U.S is 37 percent, with the average falling to around 24 percent. Furthermore, the corporate rate stands comparatively low at 21 percent. This low rate of taxation and other generous tax reliefs are favorable for businesses, making the U.S a desirable place for investment and for domestic businesses to grow.
The U.K also boasts a competitive rate taxation system. The top rate of taxation is 45 percent, and the average rate falls to around 28 percent. This fiscal system is even more attractive for businesses, particularly when considering the low rate of 19 percent for corporate profits. On the other hand, residents may not possess the same enthusiasm towards the U.K’s fiscal policy as businesses, as the middle and lower income classes tend to pay comparatively higher rates of income taxation.
Finally, let’s consider France, which enjoys a flat taxation system of 30 percent for all income range, whether for companies or individuals. This fiscal policy is attractive for those earning low to medium incomes, since the average taxation rate remains the same no matter how much one earns. However, it is not as attractive for high-income individuals, since the rate cannot be reduced as incomes increase.
Now that we have looked at three commonly-used fiscal policies, let’s compare them to determine which one is the most “favorable”. Based on our criteria of low tax rates, able generation of acceptable revenues, and an attractive economic climate, the United States fiscal system is the most favorable, due to its comparatively low taxation rate across all income brackets, particularly for businesses. This fiscal system is also attractive for all income classes, allowing for a fair balance between taxation for the rich, and favorable taxation for the middle and lower income classes.
Overall, each country must determine its own fiscal system based on its own requirements and internal dynamics. But of the three countries we examined, the U.S fiscal policy is the most “favorable”: offering a low tax rate for businesses and fair taxation for all citizens. This fiscal system has been successful in creating an attractive economic climate, allowing both businesses and citizens to thrive.