2008th economic crisis that began in the European Union, Member States mainly by lowering the tax burden is lifted, and only eight countries. Estonia's tax burden was the greatest weightlifter - 2009. The tax burden in Estonia grew by 3.8 percent and reached 35.9 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). It crossed the two-fold increase in the tax burden in Luxembourg (1.7%) and even more so in Malta, Sweden, Italy, Austria, Slovenia and Germany, where it remained below 0.5 percent.
Eurostat and the European Commission published its first Member States in July 2009th taxation year of the lease of 428-page compendium, which gave an overview of the direct, indirect, financial, environmental, energy and social security contributions paragraph. Particularly hard hit by the crisis laenubuumiga the Baltic States, where GDP declined by Estonia (-13.9%), Lithuania (-14.7%) and Latvia (18%). Was ranked fourth in Slovenia (-8.1%), and in most countries, it remained below 5%, but rose by 1.7% in Poland.
Economic crisis hit Estonia at the 2008th In the third quarter, when three consecutive quarter in a row of gross domestic product fell (-4.5%). Next year, the Estonian economy for three consecutive quarters -16.6% to -14.6%. The government has responded to the largest tax increase.
2009th The increased tax burden in Estonia 2008th compared with 3.8 percent and the extent of 35.9 per cent of GDP. It had a little more than 27 countries of the European Union average (35.8%), and rapidly approached the euro-zone countries' average (36.5%). Estonia was the 13th of this figure present, however, was substantially higher than Lithuania (29.3%) and Latvia the lowest tax burden (26.6%). Our Baltic neighbors were under 30 and six percent among the state tax burden.
The European Union's 27 Member States of the tax burden on GDP was as follows: Denmark 48.1%, Sweden 46.9%, Belgium 43.5%, Italy 43.1% Finland 43.1%, Austria 42.7%, France 41, 6%, Germany 39.7%, Hungary 39.5%, Netherlands 38.2%, Slovenia 37.6%, Luxembourg 37.1%, Estonia 35.9%, Hungary 35.1%, UK 34.9% Czech 34.5%, 34.2% in Malta, Poland 31.8%, Portugal 31%, Spain 30.4%, Greece 30.3%, Lithuania 29.3%, 28.9% in Bulgaria, Slovakia, 28, 8%, Ireland 28.2%, 27% in Romania, Latvia, 26.6%.
Change in Tax Burden
Compared to 2008. increased its tax share in GDP in eight countries, because most of the retained and strengthened the budget. Increases were usually limited, but two Member States is marked by a significant increase - of 3.8% in Estonia and Luxembourg 1.7%. Economic and financial crises in many countries showed the effect of lowering the tax burden, which were rabavaimad Cyprus (-4%) and Bulgaria (-3.4%). Tax revenue declined more than 2.5% in Latvia, Poland, Britain and Spain.
The tax burden is different in the new Member States in accordance with Hungary (39.5%), Estonia (35.9%) and Slovenia (37.6%) exceeds the EU27 average (35.8%) and Cyprus will remain below that level (35, 1%), Czech (34.5%), Poland (31.8%), Lithuania (29.3%), Bulgaria (28.9%), Slovakia (28.8%), Romania (27%) and Latvia (26.6%).
Since 2000. significantly reduced the tax burden in Sweden (-4.6%), Greece (-4.3%) and Finland (-4.1%). Three Member States have shown a significant increase over the same period: Malta (6%), Cyprus (5.2%) and Estonia (4.9%). 2009th reduced the tax burden in Cyprus, Malta, Estonia, and only slightly increased markedly increased.
Tax Changes
Characteristic of the new Member States' tax policy is a high dependence on taxes on consumption. Only in the Czech Republic is below the EU average. Indirect taxes (consumption taxes), the largest increase was in Estonia (6.5%) and Hungary (1.6%), and this is related to the VAT and excises. Other countries have experienced much increased tax revenue from the tax reduction (Latvia). Particularly large reductions were observed in Bulgaria (-3.5%), Cyprus (-2.9%), Poland (-2.1%), Portugal (-1.8%) and Ireland (-1.7%).
Alcohol and tobacco excise taxes rose in 21 countries, while most in Estonia (2.3% of GDP), Czech (0.6%) and Romania (0.5%). Their share fell from Bulgaria, France and Poland.
The tax increase was the largest energy-2009th In Estonia, reaching more than 1% of GDP. A small increase was in Cyprus, Slovenia, Portugal and Poland, and Romania, for example, it fell nearly 2 percent of GDP.
Electricity excise tax in Estonia in the European Union exceeded the required minimum of 6 times, 10 times in Poland. In other countries the share of tax revenue was less than 2%, but in Estonia it was 7% and 9% in Poland.
Estonia and Malta were the only ones where the government's debt burden rose by 1%, the EU27 average was -4.5%. Most of Finland decreased (-7%), Irish (6.9%) and Spain (-6.8%), as did our neighbors in Sweden (-3.2%), Latvia (-5.4%) and Lithuania (-6.1%).
Estonian Taxes
Indirect taxes received 2.1 billion euros, which accounted for 15.2% of GDP and the sixth had members. Estonian tax accounted for the 2008th 8% of GDP, and increased in 2009. The 9.1% percent, which we were fourth in the European Union members. Excise duties and consumption taxes accounted for the 2009th 5% of GDP in Bulgaria and the European Union after it had second members. Other taxes was EUR 0.1 billion (1.1%) and Estonia's place in the second ten.
Direct taxes (income tax) to account for a smaller proportion (7.5% of GDP, or EUR 1 billion) and indirect taxes, and thus we were 20th in Europe members. The high standard of living here is led by countries: Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Great Britain, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, Lithuania, is 25 Latvia and the 23rd members.
The Social received 1.8 billion euros, or 13.1% of GDP, and thus we were ninth members. Even first we came to the place of social charges paid by employers (12.4% of GDP) in respect of employees' contribution was the 26th place.
Total tax burden was 13th in Estonia to 35.9 percent. We are more important than direct taxes to indirect taxes, which is characterized by the richest countries in the European Union.
The government receives tax revenues from 68.4% (7th place), the local government 13.9% (7), 16.8% social security (21) and the European Union 0.9% (11). The government budget balance was negative due to the economic crisis, but did not fall below the Maastricht criterion (0.1% in 2010. Year and 0.6% in 2011. In).
Both VAT and excise tax receipts from the 2008th decreased, but increased in 2009. year, which shows the rate of increase in VAT and excise taxes. Capital duty was only 7.2% of total tax revenue, which was the lowest level of the Member States.
Environmental taxes in total taxes and 8.3% above the EU average percentage. Direct tax reductions are offset by a targeted manner, consumption and environmental policies of tax increases.
Estonian kroon gave up and got the tax hikes
Economic crisis was a major social cost, as employment has decreased to 100 thousand persons and the unemployment rate reached the 2010th was 15.5%, but lowers the 2011th to about 13.9%, respectively. Tax policy has long targeted to shift the tax burden on labor income and consumption and the environment. 2010th was raised most of excise duties - alcohol, tobacco, fuels and power off. All excise taxes are now significantly above the EU minimum tax rate, and the only exception is oil shale, which is a transitional 2013th years. These tax increases was made by Estonia in order to meet euro adoption criteria.
When we got the neck joining the European Union concerning the sugar, then we will crown the exchange into euros at least 3 times more expensive, because the aid package to countries in need of Estonia will pay 149 million euros (2.3 billion euros). This is EUR 163 or 2,549 kroons for every citizen, and this is the only real money on the lower part of the great guarantees of the package.
The euro is really expensive (paper) money.
VIRGO Screws, Euro NGO Ambassador
Image text: the pre-EU accession referendum, the 2003rd September was an argument for the average pension for 15,763 euros. Six years later, our tax burden the middle class, but still only a third of the average pension.
Article published in the 20th July 2011 Midweek newspaper
http://www.kesknadal.ee/est/g2/uudised?id=17164
