This paper aims at discussing the main features of Spain’s tax system, its recent reforms and those underway. The current state of the main taxes, their future reforms are studied starting from 1975, when Spain shifted to democracy. Direct taxes, indirect taxes and social security contributions are compared with the European average, trying to focus on the major changes from 1975 to 1999. The structure of the main taxes is surveyed, showing the recent reforms and the differences with the previous system. The analysis goes on observing the evolution of the tax burden from 1975 to 1997, looking at progressivity of the tax system, at the redistributive implications. Moreover, in this paper we analyse the process of fiscal decentralisation and the tax wedge in corporate and labour taxation. Finally, after a brief overview of the macroeconomic and budget framework, the paper assesses the fiscal reforms that have taken place during 1990s. The aim of these reforms was a more neutrality of the tax system and a reduction of disincentives to labour force participation, in tandem with an offset increase in VAT rates. Actually, the main tax reforms guidelines are a further reducing of the tax burden on labour, a promotion of tax neutrality across saving instruments and corporate tax regimes, and an improvement of decentralisation.
Download Info
To download:
If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the
proper application to
view it first. Information about this may be contained
in the File-Format links below. In case of further problems read
the IDEAS help
page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS
site. Please be patient as the files may be large.
Publisher Info
Paper provided by EconWPA in its series Public Economics with number
0511003.
Length: 32 pages Date of creation: 03 Nov 2005 Date of revision: Handle: RePEc:wpa:wuwppe:0511003
Note: Type of Document - pdf; pages: 32. Paper later published in the book “Tax system and tax reform in Europe”, by Paola Profeta e Luigi Bernardi (editors), Routledge, London, 2003. Contact details of provider: Web page: http://129.3.20.41
For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its listing, contact: (EconWPA).
Find related papers by JEL classification: H20 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - General H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies H25 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Business Taxes and Subsidies
References listed on IDEAS Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.: