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Taxing Agricultural Land

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  • Nieuwoudt, W. L.

Abstract

Desirable features of a tax on agricultural land are that it is not a disincentive to effort, it does not distort resource allocation, it does not increase food prices and evasion is not possible. A land tax on these grounds is superior to an income tax. The tax, however, must be acceptable to the community. The administration of a land tax is costly as all properties need to be appraised individually and regularly. The rise in expenses and function of government has made such a tax inadequate to finance national government expenditure and land taxes are usually used to finance local government expenditure. Currently agriculture is heavily subsidised in developed countries which means that tax money is rechannelled into agriculture, after a portion of it is wasted (lost) in the administration of tax and subsidy schemes. More attention needs to be given to eliminating subsidies that do not meet efficiency and equity goals rather than embarking on new forms of taxation. In this context a subsidy on labour qualifies, whereas a subsidy on the purchase of land is an economic waste, as the subsidy becomes capitalised in higher land values.

Suggested Citation

  • Nieuwoudt, W. L., 1987. "Taxing Agricultural Land," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 26(2), June.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:agreko:267149
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.267149
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    Cited by:

    1. Alexander RYMANOV, 2017. "Differential land rent and agricultural taxation," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 63(9), pages 421-429.
    2. R.F. Townsend & J. Kirsten & N. Vink, 1998. "Farm size, productivity and returns to scale in agriculture revisited: a case study of wine producers in South Africa," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 19(1-2), pages 175-180, September.
    3. Klerk, M J de, 1990. "Issues and Options for Land Reform in South Africa," 1990 Symposium, Agricultural Restructuring in Southern Africa, July 24-27, 1990, Swakopmund, Namibia 183527, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    4. Anseeuw, Ward & Mathebula, Ntombifuthi, 2008. "Land Reform and Development: Evaluating South Africa’s Restitution and Redistribution Programmes," Reports 108281, University of Pretoria, Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development.

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