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The Austrian Tax System – Perspectives for Reform

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  • Angela Köppl
  • Margit Schratzenstaller-Altzinger

Abstract

A key objective of a reform of the Austrian tax system should be the improvement of the tax structure. This includes a shift in the revenue composition away from certain tax bases (exoneration) towards other bases, implying their higher taxation. The latter should serve not only short-term counter-financing purposes to compensate revenue losses elsewhere. The guiding principle of forward-looking tax policy should rather be, starting from a long-term vision of a "tax system 2025", to re-allocate in a series of steps the entire tax burden. The essence of such reform should be a relief of the high tax burden on labour, in particular for small and medium-size earnings, to be offset by hikes in environmental and certain property-based taxes, within the framework of a comprehensive socio-ecological reform design, supplemented by the abolition of tax exemptions notably in income tax and VAT. Independently from the issue of the tax structure, the overall tax burden can be lowered all the more, the more savings on the expenditure side can be achieved in parallel with the reduction in labour taxes.

Suggested Citation

  • Angela Köppl & Margit Schratzenstaller-Altzinger, 2015. "The Austrian Tax System – Perspectives for Reform," WIFO Bulletin, WIFO, vol. 20(6), pages 72-79, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:wfo:wblltn:y:2015:i:6:p:72-79
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Margit Schratzenstaller, 2016. "Fiscal Policy Facing Major Challenges with Tax Reform, Need for Growth-Enhancing Investment and Consolidation Targets. Federal Fiscal Framework 2016-2019 and Draft Federal Budget 2016," WIFO Bulletin, WIFO, vol. 21(2), pages 12-29, February.
    2. Angela Köppl & Margit Schratzenstaller-Altzinger, 2015. "The Austrian Tax System – Status Quo," WIFO Bulletin, WIFO, vol. 20(5), pages 55-71, April.
    3. Margit Schratzenstaller, 2017. "Fiscal Policy Facing Manifold Challenges. Federal Fiscal Framework 2017-2020 and Draft Federal Budget 2017," WIFO Bulletin, WIFO, vol. 22(7), pages 58-72, July.
    4. Spyros Arvanitis & Michael Peneder & Christian Rammer & Tobias Stucki & Martin Wörter, 2016. "The adoption of green energy technologies: The role of policies in an international comparison," KOF Working papers 16-411, KOF Swiss Economic Institute, ETH Zurich.
    5. Rammer, Christian & Gottschalk, Sandra & Peneder, Michael & Wörter, Martin & Stucki, Tobias & Arvanitis, Spyros, 2017. "Does energy policy hurt international competitiveness of firms? A comparative study for Germany, Switzerland and Austria," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 154-180.
    6. Margit Schratzenstaller, 2015. "The Tax Reform 2015-16 – Measures and Overall Assessment," WIFO Bulletin, WIFO, vol. 20(20), pages 222-237, December.
    7. Spyros Arvanitis & Michael Peneder & Christian Rammer & Tobias Stucki & Martin Wörter, 2016. "How Different Policy Instruments Affect the Creation of Green Energy Innovation: A Differentiated Perspective," KOF Working papers 16-417, KOF Swiss Economic Institute, ETH Zurich.

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