Elke Asen
Tax Foundation
Washington, DC, United States
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Past articles by Elke:
Recent Changes in Top Personal Income Tax Rates in Europe
In the past three years, eight European OECD countries changed their top personal income tax rate, of which four of them cut their top personal income tax rates. → Read More
Carbon Taxes in Europe
In recent years, several countries have taken measures to reduce carbon emissions, including instituting environmental regulations, emissions trading systems (ETS), and carbon taxes. → Read More
Tax Relief for Families in Europe
Most countries provide tax relief to families with children—typically through targeted tax breaks that lower income taxes. While all European OECD countries provide tax relief for families, its extent varies substantially across countries. → Read More
Dividend Tax Rates in Europe
Many countries’ personal income tax systems tax various sources of individual income—including investment income such as dividends and capital gains. Today’s map shows how dividend income is taxed across European OECD countries. A dividend is a payment made to a corporation’s shareholders from corporate after-tax profits. In most countries,… Read More → Read More
Top Personal Income Tax Rates in Europe
Most countries’ personal income taxes have a progressive structure, meaning that the tax rate paid by individuals increases as they earn higher wages. The highest tax rate individuals pay differs significantly across Europe, with Denmark (55.9 percent), France (55.4 percent), and Austria (55 percent) having the highest top statutory personal income tax rates among European OECD countries. → Read More
Estate, Inheritance, and Gift Taxes in Europe
Estate tax is levied on the property of the deceased and is paid by the estate itself. Inheritance taxes, in contrast, are only levied on the value of assets transferred and are paid by the heirs. Gift taxes are levied when property is transferred by a living individual. The majority of European countries covered in today’s map currently levy estate, inheritance, or gift taxes. → Read More
Capital Gains Tax Rates in Europe
In many countries, investment income, such as dividends and capital gains, is taxed at a different rate than wage income. Today’s map focuses on how capital gains are taxed, showing how capital gains tax rates differ across European OECD countries. → Read More
Reliance on Property Taxes in Europe
Property taxes are levied on the assets of an individual or business. There are different types of property taxes, with recurrent taxes on immovable property (such as property taxes on land and buildings) the only ones levied by all countries covered. Other types of property taxes include estate, inheritance, and gift taxes, net wealth taxes, and taxes on financial and capital transactions. → Read More
Reliance on Consumption Taxes in Europe
Hungary relies the most on consumption tax revenue, at 45.3 percent of total tax revenue, followed by Latvia and Estonia at 45.1 percent and 42.4 percent, respectively. → Read More
Tax Subsidies for R&D Expenditures in Europe
Many countries incentivize business investment in research and development (R&D), intending to foster innovation. A common approach is to provide direct government funding for R&D activity. However, a significant number of jurisdictions also offer R&D tax incentives. → Read More
Integrated Tax Rates on Corporate Income in Europe
The integrated tax rate on corporate income reflects both the corporate income tax and the dividends or capital gains tax—the total tax levied on corporate income. For dividends, Ireland’s top integrated tax rate was highest among European OECD countries, followed by France and Denmark Read More → Read More
Integrated Tax Rates on Corporate Income in Europe
The integrated tax rate on corporate income reflects both the corporate income tax and the dividends or capital gains tax—the total tax levied on corporate income. For dividends, Ireland’s top integrated tax rate was highest among European OECD countries, followed by France and Denmark → Read More
2021 VAT Rates in Europe
More than 140 countries worldwide—including all European countries—levy a Value-Added Tax (VAT) on goods and services. → Read More
Wealth Taxes in Europe
Net wealth taxes are recurrent taxes on an individual’s wealth, net of debt. The concept of a net wealth tax is similar to a real property tax. But instead of only taxing real estate, it covers all wealth an individual owns. As today’s map shows, only three European countries covered levy a net wealth tax, namely Norway, Spain, and Switzerland. France and Italy levy wealth taxes on selected… → Read More
Reduced Corporate Income Tax Rates for Small Businesses in Europe
Corporate income taxes are commonly levied as a flat rate on business profits. However, some countries provide reduced corporate income tax rates for small businesses Read More → Read More
New Accelerated Depreciation Policies to Spur Investment in Australia, Austria, Germany, and New Zealand
Accelerated depreciation lowers the cost of capital investments through the tax code and can thus provide an important tool for governments. → Read More
Capital Gains Tax Rates in Europe
Denmark levies the highest capital gains tax rate of all European OECD countries in 2020, followed by Finland and Ireland. → Read More
Complexity of VATs in Europe
Businesses are required to remit Value-Added Taxes (VAT) on goods and services sold to final consumers. The administrative burden of complying with the tax varies significantly across countries. → Read More
Complexity of VATs in Europe
Businesses are required to remit Value-Added Taxes (VAT) on goods and services sold to final consumers. The administrative burden of complying with the tax varies significantly across countries. → Read More
OECD Report: Tax Revenue in African Countries
Taxes on goods and services were on average the greatest source of tax revenue for African countries, at 53.7 percent of total tax revenues in 2017. VAT contributed on average 29.4 percent, making it the most important tax on goods and services. → Read More