Tax Foundation Europe produces research and analysis specifically designed to inform five key debates in European tax policy: the concept of tax fairness, the twin transitions of the green and digital economies, government revenue and own resources, competitiveness and productivity, and the future of taxation in Europe.
One of our flagship tools is the European Tax Policy Scorecard (ETPS), which compares the competitiveness and neutrality of each country’s tax system, explains why certain tax codes stand out as better or worse models for reform, and measures the relative impact of EU tax policy on Member States. Explore the ETPS
Featured Issues
Global Tax Deal | European Tax Maps | Digital Taxes | Carbon Taxes | Cost Recovery
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Featured Projects
2024 European Tax Policy Scorecard
The variety of approaches to taxation among European countries creates a need to evaluate these systems relative to each other. For that purpose, we have developed the European Tax Policy Scorecard—a relative comparison of European countries’ tax systems.
55 min read
OECD Pillar Two Compliance Costs: A Quantitative Assessment for EU-Headquartered Groups
New evidence shows the scale and distribution of compliance costs for EU firms affected by Pillar Two, i.e., the “Global Minimum Tax.”
6 min read
Policy Brief: QDMTTs Leave Geographic Disparity Between Increased Pillar Two Costs and Revenues
Due to the incentive for jurisdictions to implement a qualified domestic minimum top-up tax (QDMTT), Pillar Two leaves a geographic asymmetry. Additional tax revenues would predominantly accrue to low-tax jurisdictions, with high tax jurisdictions receiving little to no increase.
2 min read
2025 Spanish Regional Tax Competitiveness Index
The 2025 Spanish Regional Tax Competitiveness Index allows policymakers and taxpayers to evaluate and measure how their regions’ tax systems compare.
7 min read
Taxing Powerhouses: The Systematic Role of Businesses in Collecting Government Revenue
On average, businesses in the OECD are liable for collecting, paying, and remitting more than 85 percent of the total tax collection.
15 min read
Savings and Investment: The Tax Treatment of Stock and Retirement Accounts in OECD and EU Countries
Tax-preferred private retirement accounts often have complex rules and limitations. Universal savings accounts could be a simpler alternative—or addition—to many countries’ current system of private retirement savings accounts.
23 min readAll European Research
39 Results
How Tax Cliffs Hold Back Poland’s Individual Business Owners
Poland taxes its individual business owners through alternative regimes and a series of thresholds, several of them sharp notches that imply significant tax costs for businesses crossing them.
11 min read
Does the EU Tax Omnibus’ R&D Expensing Proposal Make the EU More Competitive?
The EU Tax Omnibus proposal would create an EU-wide minimum standard for full expensing, but it confines that standard to qualifying tangible assets used in research and development (R&D) rather than to broader asset classes.
16 min read
Are Digital Services Taxes a Viable Solution for the EU Budget?
Since digital services taxes generate little revenue, place the cost on European consumers and not on large digital companies as intended, and risk escalating trade disputes, policymakers should rethink their strategy.
14 min read
Competitive Corporate Tax Policy Is Essential for European Economic Growth
Debates over tax fairness and anti-avoidance rules have dominated European tax policy circles for over a decade. However, as geoeconomic pressures increase around the world, policymakers are looking for ways to boost European competitiveness and economic growth.
18 min read
Windfall Profits Taxes on Oil and Gas Should Be Left in the Past
Windfall taxes, particularly those imposed on the oil and gas industry, often appear as a quick fix for governments seeking to raise revenue during periods of high commodity prices. However, while these taxes may offer short-term revenues, they can also trigger negative consequences that undermine their intended purpose.
21 min read
2025 European Tax Policy Scorecard
The variety of approaches to taxation among European countries creates a need to evaluate these systems relative to each other. For that purpose, we have developed the European Tax Policy Scorecard—a relative comparison of European countries’ tax systems.
55 min read
Recommendations to the European Commission: A Framework for Tax Simplification
A focus on sustained growth, meaningful metrics, and institutional capabilities that keep simplification a focus in future regulatory efforts should underpin the decluttering agenda.
8 min read
Policy Brief: QDMTTs Leave Geographic Disparity Between Increased Pillar Two Costs and Revenues
Due to the incentive for jurisdictions to implement a qualified domestic minimum top-up tax (QDMTT), Pillar Two leaves a geographic asymmetry. Additional tax revenues would predominantly accrue to low-tax jurisdictions, with high tax jurisdictions receiving little to no increase.
2 min read
2025 Spanish Regional Tax Competitiveness Index
The 2025 Spanish Regional Tax Competitiveness Index allows policymakers and taxpayers to evaluate and measure how their regions’ tax systems compare.
7 min read
OECD Pillar Two Compliance Costs: A Quantitative Assessment for EU-Headquartered Groups
New evidence shows the scale and distribution of compliance costs for EU firms affected by Pillar Two, i.e., the “Global Minimum Tax.”
6 min read
Savings and Investment: The Tax Treatment of Stock and Retirement Accounts in OECD and EU Countries
Tax-preferred private retirement accounts often have complex rules and limitations. Universal savings accounts could be a simpler alternative—or addition—to many countries’ current system of private retirement savings accounts.
23 min read
A Distributed Profits Tax in Poland
The Polish government is considering converting its traditional corporate income tax into a tax on distributed profits. We estimate that this reform would result in greater investment, a larger productive capital stock, and higher economic output in the long run.
29 min read
Taxing Powerhouses: The Systematic Role of Businesses in Collecting Government Revenue
On average, businesses in the OECD are liable for collecting, paying, and remitting more than 85 percent of the total tax collection.
15 min read
2024 European Tax Policy Scorecard
The variety of approaches to taxation among European countries creates a need to evaluate these systems relative to each other. For that purpose, we have developed the European Tax Policy Scorecard—a relative comparison of European countries’ tax systems.
55 min read
2024 Spanish Regional Tax Competitiveness Index
The 2024 Spanish Regional Tax Competitiveness Index allows policymakers and taxpayers to evaluate and measure how their regions’ tax systems compare.
7 min read
Statutory vs. Effective Tax Rates: Why Do Higher Taxes Not Necessarily Lead to Increased Revenues?
The gap between statutory rates and average effective tax rates for personal income tax in the European Union varies significantly, affecting the efficiency and simplicity of the tax system.
32 min read
What European Countries Are Doing about Oil and Gas Windfall Profits Taxes
Rather than pursuing temporary policies, policymakers should implement long-term, pro-growth tax reforms that stimulate economic activity and incentivize energy diversification by supporting private investment through full expensing.
19 min read
The Impact of High Inflation on Tax Revenues across Europe
The European Union’s experience with high inflation highlights the critical need for adaptive fiscal policies. Best practices drawn from the academic literature recommend implementing automatic adjustment mechanisms with a certain periodicity and based on price increases.
31 min read
The High Cost of Wealth Taxes
Many developed countries have repealed their wealth taxes in recent years for a variety of reasons. They raise little revenue, create high administrative costs, and induce an outflow of wealthy individuals and their money. Many policymakers have also recognized that high taxes on capital and wealth damage economic growth.
30 min read
Overview and Analysis of the Impact of Marginal Taxes on High Incomes in the European Union
The recent push to increase taxes on the wealthy has gained significant traction across Europe. This report highlights the obstacles and complex interplay between tax policy and economic behavior, suggesting that simply raising tax rates on the wealthy might not yield the intended social benefits.
42 min read