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Mobilizing VAT revenues in African countries

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  • Sijbren Cnossen

Abstract

Several African countries have to increase their tax revenues to finance human and economic development. General consumption taxes, such as VATs, are the preferred instrument for doing so, because they are less detrimental to growth than income taxes. To enable their use, VAT design has to be improved. Currently, many VATs are so riddled with exemptions and zero rates on domestic goods that they resemble extended excise tax systems, while the standard rate is mainly confined to luxury goods. VAT base broadening would not only increase revenue but also reduce the economic distortions and administrative complexities of most taxes. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Sijbren Cnossen, 2015. "Mobilizing VAT revenues in African countries," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 22(6), pages 1077-1108, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:itaxpf:v:22:y:2015:i:6:p:1077-1108
    DOI: 10.1007/s10797-015-9348-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Buettner, Thiess & Madzharova, Boryana, 2018. "WTO membership and the shift to consumption taxes," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 197-218.
    3. Fjeldstad, Odd-Helge & Kagoma, Cecilia & Mdee, Ephraim & Sjursen, Ingrid Hoem & Somville, Vincent, 2020. "The customer is king: Evidence on VAT compliance in Tanzania," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    4. Seydou Coulibaly, 2019. "Impact of natural resource wealth on non-resource tax revenue mobilization in Africa: Do institutions and economic diversification matter?," Working Papers halshs-02108128, HAL.
    5. Romain Houssa & Kelbesa Megersa, 2017. "Institutional quality, economic development and the performance of VAT," BeFinD Working Papers 0115, University of Namur, Department of Economics.
    6. Gabriel RAITA, 2021. "A Theoretical Approach Of The Fiscal System In Romania," Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, Faculty of Sciences, "1 Decembrie 1918" University, Alba Iulia, vol. 1(23), pages 1-5.
    7. Abdramane Camara, 2023. "The Effect of Foreign Direct Investment on Tax Revenue," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 65(1), pages 168-190, March.
    8. Sijbren Cnossen, 2017. "VAT and Agriculture: Lessons from Europe," CESifo Working Paper Series 6350, CESifo.
    9. Joaquim Sarmento, 2016. "The Determinants Of Value Added Tax Revenues In The European Union," Portuguese Journal of Management Studies, ISEG, Universidade de Lisboa, vol. 21(2), pages 79-99.
    10. Warwick, Ross & Harris, Tom & Phillips, David & Goldman, Maya & Jellema, Jon & Inchauste, Gabriela & Goraus-Tańska, Karolina, 2022. "The redistributive power of cash transfers vs VAT exemptions: A multi-country study," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    11. Seydou Coulibaly, 2019. "Impact of natural resource wealth on non-resource tax revenue mobilization in Africa: Do institutions and economic diversification matter?," CERDI Working papers halshs-02108128, HAL.
    12. Sijbren Cnossen, 2017. "VAT and Agriculture: Lessons from Europe," CPB Discussion Paper 341, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.
    13. Sijbren Cnossen, 2018. "VAT and agriculture: lessons from Europe," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 25(2), pages 519-551, April.
    14. Agustin Redonda, 2016. "Tax Expenditures and Sustainability. An Overview," Discussion Notes 1603, Council on Economic Policies.
    15. Mattéo Godin & Romain Houssa & Kelbesa Megersa, 2017. "The Performance of VAT in DGD-partner countries," BeFinD Working Papers 0116, University of Namur, Department of Economics.
    16. Sijbren Cnossen, 2017. "VAT and Agriculture: Lessons from Europe," CPB Discussion Paper 341.rdf, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.
    17. Abdramane Camara, 2019. "The effect of foreign direct investment on tax revenue in developing countries," Working Papers hal-03188025, HAL.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Africa; Collection efficiency; Tax effort; VAT; H21; H25;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
    • H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies

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