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VAT Refunds: A Review of Country Experience

Author

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  • Mr. Graham Harrison
  • Russell Krelove

Abstract

A key feature of the invoice-credit form of value-added tax (VAT) is that some businesses- notably exporters-will pay more tax on their purchases than is due on their sales, and so can seek refunds of excess credits from government. While refunding is straightforward in principle, serious problems arise in practice, including opportunities for fraud and corruption, and denial of refunds by governments with cash shortages. This makes the refund process the "Achilles heel" of the VAT. This paper examines the refund approaches of tax administrations in 36 developing, transitional, and developed countries. It evaluates the effectiveness of these approaches and suggests a model of best practice that takes into consideration compliance issues faced by countries during different stages of development.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Graham Harrison & Russell Krelove, 2005. "VAT Refunds: A Review of Country Experience," IMF Working Papers 2005/218, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2005/218
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    Cited by:

    1. International Monetary Fund, 2007. "Haiti: Selected Issues and Statistical Appendix," IMF Staff Country Reports 2007/292, International Monetary Fund.
    2. Ernesto Crivelli, 2019. "A basic tool to assess tax administration strength in emerging Europe," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(2), pages 425-446, February.
    3. Gangadha Prasad Shukla & Duc Minh Pham & Michael Engelschalk & Tuan Minh Le, 2011. "Tax Reform in Vietnam," World Bank Publications - Reports 26851, The World Bank Group.
    4. de Quatrebarbes, Céline & Boccanfuso, Dorothée & Savard, Luc, 2016. "Beyond representative households: The macro–micro impact analysis of VAT designs applied to Niger," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 76-92.
    5. Sharma, Rishi, 2017. "Domestic Taxes and Export Composition: Evidence from VAT Adoption Worldwide," Working Papers 2017-4, Department of Economics, Colgate University, revised 02 Jul 2017.
    6. Michael Keen, 2007. "VAT attacks!," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 14(4), pages 365-381, August.
    7. Malinina, Tatiana (Малинина, Татьяна), 2015. "Approaches to the Administration of Vat in the European Union and its Implications for the Customs Union [Подходы К Администрированию Ндс В Европейском Союзе И Выводы Для Таможенного Союза]," Published Papers mak15, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration.
    8. Thiess Buettner & Annalisa Tassi, 2023. "VAT fraud and reverse charge: empirical evidence from VAT return data," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 30(3), pages 849-878, June.
    9. Antonio Gómez Gómez-Plana & Pedro Pascual Arzoz, 2011. "Fraude fiscal e IVA en España: incidencia en un modelo de equilibrio general," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 199(4), pages 9-52, December.
    10. World Bank Group & PwC, "undated". "Paying Taxes 2016," World Bank Publications - Reports 23780, The World Bank Group.
    11. Lee,Hyung Chul, 2016. "Can electronic tax invoicing improve tax compliance ? a case study of the Republic of Korea's electronic tax invoicing for value-added tax," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7592, The World Bank.
    12. Giulia Mascagni & Roel Dom & Fabrizio Santoro & Denis Mukama, 2023. "The VAT in practice: equity, enforcement, and complexity," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 30(2), pages 525-563, April.
    13. Adandohoin, Kodjo, 2018. "Tax transition in developing countries: Do VAT and excises really work?," MPRA Paper 91522, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    14. Vernon N. Hsu & Kaijie Zhu, 2011. "Tax-Effective Supply Chain Decisions Under China's Export-Oriented Tax Policies," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 13(2), pages 163-179, November.
    15. Kodjo Adandohoin, 2021. "Tax transition in developing countries: do value added tax and excises really work?," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 379-424, May.
    16. Ledjon Shahini & Arben Malaj, 2015. "How can We Measure the VAT Fraud and Evasion? Case of Albania," European Journal of Economics and Business Studies Articles, Revistia Research and Publishing, vol. 1, ejes_v1_i.
    17. Alena Dugová, 2013. "Changes in the Value Added Tax as the Tool against the Global Crisis," European Financial and Accounting Journal, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2013(3), pages 74-93.
    18. Tapiwa Dalu & Ruvimbo Gillian Dalu & Tatenda Archibald Matibiri & Langton Madzamba, 2016. "Impact of value added tax refunds on revenue collection - a case of Region 1 taxpayers, Zimbabwe," International Journal of Economics and Business Research, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 11(3), pages 247-273.
    19. Richard M. Bird, 2013. "Below the Salt: Decentralizing Value-Added Taxes," International Center for Public Policy Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper1302, International Center for Public Policy, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University.
    20. Luca Barbone & Richard Bird & Jaime Vázquez Caro, 2012. "The Costs of VAT: A Review of the Literature," CASE Network Reports 0106, CASE-Center for Social and Economic Research.
    21. World Bank Group, 2014. "Lao PDR Investment Climate Assessment 2014 : Policy Uncertainty in the Midst of a Natural Resources Boom," World Bank Publications - Reports 21506, The World Bank Group.
    22. Keen, Michael & Smith, Stephen, 2006. "VAT Fraud and Evasion: What Do We Know and What Can Be Done?," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 59(4), pages 861-887, December.

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