
All Blog Posts

The European VAT is Not a Discriminatory Tax Against US Exports
The Trump administration appears to be moving in a “reciprocal” policy direction despite the significant negative economic consequences for American consumers of across-the-board tariffs on goods coming into the US. However, the EU’s VAT system should not be used as a justification for retaliatory tariffs.
6 min read
Simplifying Germany’s Income Tax System: A Path Toward Fairness and Efficiency
While many Scandinavians get mailed comprehensive pre-filled tax returns and only have to check whether they are correct, the average German taxpayer spends 9 to 10 hours and over €100 filing their tax return.
7 min read
The EU’s Questionable VAT Policy
In a recent survey regarding companies’ barriers to conducting business in the EU single market, VAT ranked first. Policymakers should invest in reforming VAT systems to close both compliance and policy gaps in ways that improve the overall efficiency of their tax systems.
7 min read
Transatlantic Tensions: What the German Election Could Mean for International Tax & Trade Policy
As the third-largest economy in the world, with an influential voice within EU policymaking, and the United States among its most important trading partners, Germany’s next government will play a particularly important role in deciding the direction of European tax, trade, and transatlantic policy.
6 min read
Distributed Profits Taxation Would Be a Good Role Model for the EU’s 28th Regime
In a recent speech at the Davos Economic Forum, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced plans to create a single set of rules for corporate law, insolvency, labor law, and taxation, under which companies could seamlessly operate across the European Single Market.
7 min read
Spain’s Poorly Designed Tax Policy Hurts Its Competitiveness
Spain’s central government could learn some valuable lessons from its regional governments and other European countries about sound tax policy.
7 min read
Are Windfall Taxes Becoming the New Normal in the UK?
Even though energy prices have declined from their recent peak, the United Kingdom is one of the few countries in Europe continuing to rely on windfall profits taxes to support households with the rising cost of living.
4 min read
Wartime Taxes Are Waging War on Sound Policy Choices
Spain’s central government is considering making its windfall taxes on energy companies and the banking sector permanent.
6 min read
What Does Moving Toward a More Competitive EU Tax System Mean?
As the geopolitical scene continues to change, policymakers in Europe should focus on lowering effective marginal tax rates to drive much-needed investment and long-term economic growth.
6 min read
The French Budget: Moving from Public Debate to Principled Solutions
Focusing on competitiveness, neutrality, and efficient policies to raise revenue would go a long way in increasing economic growth and stabilizing public finances over the long term.
7 min read
Tax Files under New Council of EU Presidency: Hungary
As Hungary takes over the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union in the aftermath of the European elections, the relationship between tax policy and Europe’s competitiveness will be closely linked.
6 min read
Understanding Full Expensing in the United Kingdom
Given the positive contribution of full expensing to economic growth and that the UK already incurred the peak-year costs due to the existing policy, it is imperative to maintain it permanently.
5 min read
The European Union’s ViDA Proposal: Ignoring Principles Does Not Make Tax Policy Fairer
Adopting tax policy based on sound principles like neutrality rather than political expediency is essential for the European Union’s fiscal future.
5 min read
New Report Identifies Challenges with Global Minimum Tax Implementation in the EU
European Union Member States are in the process of implementing the global minimum tax in line with a directive unanimously agreed to at the end of 2022.
3 min read
The European Election and Tax Policy: Mapping Tax Policy Visions across European Political Groups
On Europe Day, our experts explore how the decisions made in the upcoming elections will shape the trajectory of the continent for years to come.
4 min read
Portugal’s Personal Income Tax System: High Top Rate, Threshold, and Tax Credits
Portugal’s personal income tax system levies high tax rates on an unusually narrow set of high earners, striking a poor balance between earnings incentives and revenue contributions.
4 min read
Property and Transfer Tax: If It Moves, Stop Taxing It.
Portugal’s turnover tax on real property transfers places a serious drag on economic growth by making it harder for people to relocate for better jobs and living conditions while constraining investment into the development of housing and buildings.
5 min read
Portugal’s Corporate Taxes Stifle Investment and Economic Growth
Portugal has the second highest top corporate tax rate in the OECD at 31.5 percent, including multiple top-up taxes. Unlike most OECD countries, Portugal imposes a highly progressive tax structure on corporate income.
6 min read
Tax Foundation Europe Launches Website and Prepares Brussels Office
The landscape of tax policy is changing—and we at the Tax Foundation are changing with it.
3 min read
Mind the Gap, Please! How Portugal Could Reform Its VAT System
Portugal’s value-added tax (VAT) policy is a treasure trove of tax oddities. Thankfully, VAT base broadening is an ideal instrument to give the Portuguese government the fiscal room to implement pro-growth tax reforms
5 min read