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VAT Treatment of the Financial Services: Implications for the Real Economy

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  • ISMAIL BAYDUR
  • FATIH YILMAZ

Abstract

Financial institutions are exempt from the value‐added tax (VAT) in most countries. We develop a general equilibrium model with endogenous firm entry and a banking sector to accommodate three key distortions related to exempt treatment: (i) self‐supply bias in the banking sector, (ii) under‐taxation of payment services, and (iii) input distortions in the business sector and tax cascading. We calibrate our model to the average of Germany, France, and the UK data. Our results show that repealing exempt treatment always increases tax revenues. However, welfare gains occur only at low VAT rates due to the hump‐shaped VAT Laffer curve.

Suggested Citation

  • Ismail Baydur & Fatih Yilmaz, 2021. "VAT Treatment of the Financial Services: Implications for the Real Economy," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 53(8), pages 2167-2200, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jmoncb:v:53:y:2021:i:8:p:2167-2200
    DOI: 10.1111/jmcb.12780
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General
    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
    • 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
    • H30 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - General

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