The 2014 edition of Taxation Trends in the European Union is the eighth issue of the report in its current form. The objective of the report remains unchanged: to present a complete view of the structure, level and trends of taxation in the Union over a medium- to long-term period. Taxation is at the heart of citizens' relationship with the State. It is not only government experts and academics, but also many citizens that ask the European Commission questions about tax levels in the EU and on how Member States compare with each other; this report, published annually, is one way of answering them. Much work has gone into making sure that the data it contains are accurate and comparable across countries. The methodology to ensure this was developed jointly by statisticians from Eurostat and economists from the Directorate-General for Taxation and the Customs Union, who have drafted the report. In addition, experts from national Statistical Offices and from the Ministries of Finance of all countries covered have actively contributed by supplying data and comments; we would like to express our thanks for their valuable suggestions and help. The report provides data and analysis for the European Semester, as the proper functioning of tax systems is a key prerequisite for economic growth. The data on the tax burden in the various Member States can thus be used as an input for the formulation of the Country-Specific Recommendations on tax reforms that are announced at the end of the European Semester. In addition to the analysis of Europe-wide trends in Part I, the report also includes a Part II with Country Chapters, covering each EU Member State plus Iceland and Norway. The Country Chapters contain a discussion of tax revenue trends, as well as a description of the main characteristics of each country's tax system. -- EU Bookshop.

This report contains a detailed statistical and economic analysis of the tax systems of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland and Norway. The data are presented within a unified statistical framework (the ESA95 harmonised system of national and regional accounts), which makes it possible to assess the heterogeneous national tax systems on a fully comparable basis. The standard classifications of tax revenues (by major type of tax or by level of government) presented in most international tax revenue statistics are hard to interpret in economic terms. This publication stands out for offering a breakdown of tax revenues by type of tax base (i.e. according to whether they are raised on consumption, labour or capital). This classification is based on disaggregated tax data and on a breakdown of the revenue from the personal income tax. In addition, the report contains indicators of the average effective tax burden on consumption, labour and capital. Country chapters give an overview of the tax system in each of the 29 countries covered, the revenue trends and the main recent policy changes. Detailed tables allow comparison between the individual countries and European averages. Data cover the 1995-2010 period and are presented both as a percentage of GDP and as a percentage of total taxation.

This report contains a detailed statistical and economic analysis of the tax systems of the Member States of the European Union and Norway. The data are presented within a unified statistical framework (the ESA95 harmonised system of national and regional accounts), which makes it possible to assess the heterogeneous national tax systems on a fully comparable basis. The standard classifications of tax revenues (by major type of tax or by level of government) presented in most international tax revenue statistics are hard to interpret in economic terms. This publication stands out for offering a breakdown of tax revenues by economic function (i.e. according to whether they are raised on consumption, labour or capital). This classification is based on disaggregated tax data and on a breakdown of the revenue from the personal income tax. In addition, the report contains indicators of the average effective tax burden on consumption, labour and capital. Country chapters give an overview of the tax system in each of the 28 countries covered, the revenue trends and the main recent policy changes. Detailed tables allow comparison between the individual countries and European averages. Data cover the 1995-2005 period and are presented both as a percentage of GDP and as a percentage of total taxation.

Overview of trends in taxation revenues, tax structures and reforms over recent years. The report is structured in separate country chapters covering the 28 EU Member States, Iceland and Norway. For each country, statistics are provided on total tax revenues as a percentage of GDP and their main components for the years 2004 to 2013. These are supplemented by factual tables presenting the latest tax reforms in each country and the main features of the national tax systems for personal and corporate taxes, VAT, social contributions and wealth and transaction taxes. The statistics in this edition are based on the new European System of National and Regional Accounts (ESA 2010). At the end of the report are reference tables containing series on statutory tax rates: for corporate income, personal income and VAT, as well as tables of effective tax rates and tax wedges.

Taxation has always been a topic of heated debate. Although opinions on tax policies differ sometimes strongly, taxes are critical for the sustainability of public finances and are an important policy lever for transforming society. High-quality and comparable data, collected across countries over time, are essential for an informed debate. The ‘Taxation trends in Europe’ report provides an overview of recent trends in taxation revenues, tax structures and reforms.