![2024 VAT rates in Europe, including value-added tax or 2024 EU VAT rates data](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/VAT_Rates_24-300x259.png)
Featured Articles
![2024 VAT rates in Europe, including value-added tax or 2024 EU VAT rates data](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/VAT_Rates_24-300x259.png)
All Related Articles
![EU tax revenue stability amid global financial crisis European public debt crisis and Eurozone recession tax policy](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/EU-tax-revenue-stability-amid-global-financial-crisis-and-eurozone-recession-tax-policy-300x201.jpg)
Tax Policy and Economic Downturns in Europe
While some temporary policies can help in a crisis, policymakers should focus their efforts on sustainable policies that support growth and the resilience of businesses (and government coffers) over the long term.
6 min read![unlocking global growth and role of taxation in promoting economic growth Tax Conference](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/unlocking-global-growth-and-role-of-taxation-300x199.jpg)
How to Unlock Global Growth: The Role of Taxation
Our recent policy conference brought together academics and political leaders to present research on some of the most pressing issues in global tax policy and to discuss solutions that can unlock genuine global growth.
9 min read![Stockholm Sweden Scandinavian tax systems to fund large social safety net and public service programs](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Stockholm-Sweden-300x199.jpg)
Insights into the Tax Systems of Scandinavian Countries
Scandinavian countries are well known for their broad social safety net and their public funding of services such as universal health care, higher education, parental leave, and child and elderly care. So how do Scandinavian countries raise their tax revenues?
7 min read![Portugal inflation tax policies include Portugal VAT exemption for value added tax goods and services](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Portugal-tax-reform-and-policies-in-response-to-inflation-VAT-proposal-300x231.jpg)
VAT Carveouts in Portugal
The Portuguese government has introduced plans to exempt “essential” food items from its value-added tax (VAT) in response to the recent inflation spike. While this may sound like a reasonable measure on the surface, it comes with numerous unintended consequences that compromise its effectiveness.
4 min read![2023 spain tax reform and spain tax policy including Spain wealth tax and Spain windfall tax policies](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Spain-tax-reform-and-Spain-tax-policy-2023-300x168.jpg)
Spain Is Doubling Down on Poor Tax Policy
Spain should follow the examples of Italy and the UK and enact tax reforms that have the potential to stimulate economic activity by supporting private investment while increasing its international tax competitiveness.
7 min read![Who pays taxes? A complete measure of federal state local tax burden and government transfers (fiscal incidence) finds a US progressive fiscal system.](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/calculator-data-spreadsheet-34-300x199.jpg)
America’s Progressive Tax and Transfer System: Federal, State, and Local Tax and Transfer Distributions
The overall U.S. tax and transfer system is overwhelmingly progressive, and understanding the extent—and source—of that progressivity is essential for lawmakers considering the trade-offs associated with each tax policy decision.
23 min read![](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/FF-2023-Landing-Page-02-300x180.png)
Facts & Figures 2023: How Does Your State Compare?
Facts & Figures serves as a one-stop state tax data resource that compares all 50 states on over 40 measures of tax rates, collections, burdens, and more.
2 min read![Chile tax reform 2023 Chile Boric business tax reform to Chile corporate tax reform](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Santiago-Chile-tax-reform-Jose-Luis-Stephens-e1678995194792-300x199.jpg)
Chile Needs Pro-Growth Tax Reform
As Chile looks to the future, policymakers might want to follow the UK’s example. Policymakers should focus on growth-oriented tax policies that encourage private and foreign direct investment, savings, and entrepreneurial activity, increasing Chile’s international tax competitiveness.
2 min read![Kentucky business tax reform Kentucky manufacturing business inputs in sales tax base and property tax proposals](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Kentucky-capitol-e1678899143421-300x190.jpg)
Kentucky Should Refrain from Expanding Its Taxation of Business Inputs
As final negotiations occur between the House and Senate, legislators should avoid adopting new policies that would jeopardize Kentucky’s business tax competitiveness.
5 min read![Individual income taxes are the most important revenue source for the US Sources of US tax revenue by tax type 2022](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Individual-income-taxes-are-the-most-important-revenue-source-for-the-US-Sources-of-US-tax-revenue-by-tax-type-2022-300x212.png)
Sources of U.S. Tax Revenue by Tax Type, 2023 Update
Different taxes have different economic effects, so policymakers should always consider how tax revenue is raised and not just how much is raised.
4 min read![EU windfall profits tax EU energy security EU fossil fuel EU presidency European Union presidency including Czech presidency Europe council EU VAT Rates: EU VAT Directive & EU Reduced VAT Rates](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/EU-European-Union-reduced-vat-rates-300x200.jpg)
The EU’s Windfall Profits Tax: How “Tax Fairness” Continues to Get in the Way of Energy Security
When it comes to providing economic relief to those in need, wartime energy security, and principled tax policy, the EU can do all three. But a windfall profits tax is not the policy to achieve these goals.
8 min read![Individual taxes are the most important US tax revenue source us tax revenue by tax type sources of us government revenue](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/US_OECD_rev2023_3-300x212.png)
Sources of Government Revenue in the OECD, 2023 Update
Designing tax policy in a way that sustainably finances government activities while minimizing distortions is important for supporting a productive economy.
5 min read![Tennessee business tax reform and Tennessee sales tax holiday](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Tennessee-Dave-Newman-opt-300x199.jpg)
Tennessee Looking Toward Pro-Growth Change in 2023
With other states upping their game to attract ever-more-mobile people and businesses, lawmakers and the governor are not content to leave Tennessee’s business taxes in their current, uncompetitive form.
7 min read![largest tax expenditures in a saving investment tax code or saving consumption neutral tax system](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/largest-tax-expenditures-saving-investment-tax-neutral-system-of-saving-and-consumption-300x200.jpg)
JCT Tax Expenditure Report: Not All Expenditures Are Created Equal
When peeling back layers of the JCT report, it becomes clear that many tax expenditures are not “loopholes” or benefits for narrow special interests, but important structural elements of the tax code.
6 min read![2023 VAT rates in Europe, 2023 VAT rates by country, 2023 value-added tax rates in Europe and 2023 value-added tax rates by country](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/VAT_Rates_2023-300x290.png)
VAT Rates in Europe, 2023
The EU countries with the highest standard VAT rates are Hungary (27 percent), Croatia, Denmark, and Sweden (all at 25 percent). Luxembourg levies the lowest standard VAT rate at 16 percent, followed by Malta (18 percent), Cyprus, Germany, and Romania (all at 19 percent).
4 min read![state tax inflation response like state tax rebates and tax holidays to combat inflation Federal tax collections inflation surging 2022](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Federal-tax-collections-inflation-surging-data-e1663598483249-300x200.jpeg)
State Tax Policy as an Inflation Response
At the end of 2022, prices were 14.6 percent higher than they were two years prior. That’s the fastest inflation rate over any two calendar years since the stagflation era of the late 1970s. State policymakers are understandably interested in bringing any tools at their disposal to bear on the problem. And many of them are reaching for tax policy solutions.
7 min read![Actionable VAT Policy Gap in Europe including VAT gap and VAT revenue potential in Europe](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Actionable-VAT-Policy-Gap-in-Europe-including-VAT-gap-and-VAT-revenue-potential-in-Europe-300x290.png)
Actionable VAT Policy Gap in Europe
Value-added taxes (VAT) make up approximately one-fifth of total tax revenues in Europe. However, European countries differ significantly in how efficiently they raise VAT revenues. One way to measure a country’s VAT efficiency is the VAT Gap.
3 min read![](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/FF807_1-263x300.png)
VAT Expansion and Labor Tax Cuts
Since VAT revenues are such a significant and stable contributor to overall government revenues, EU policymakers should pay particular attention to how efficiently those revenues are raised.
22 min read![Spain tax rankings and Spain tax competition international tax competitiveness index](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Spain-tax-rankings-including-Spain-international-tax-rankings-on-2022-International-Tax-Competitiveness-Index-300x178.jpg)
Spain’s Race to the Bottom in the International Tax Competitiveness Index
Since 2020, Spain has dropped from 26th to 34th on the International Tax Competitiveness due to multiple tax hikes, new taxes, and weak performances in all five index components.
7 min read![Cartagena Colombia tax reform Colombia economy and taxes](https://taxfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Cartagena-Colombia-e1666814015860-300x199.jpeg)
Colombia Is in Urgent Need of Pro-Growth Comprehensive Tax Reform
Colombia should consider shifting its planned tax reforms from harmful corporate and individual taxes to less harmful consumption taxes.
5 min read