Publication: Trade-offs in the Design of Simplified Tax Regimes: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa
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Published
2024-09-19
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Date
2024-09-19
Author(s)
Hoy, Christopher
Scot, Thiago
Oguso, Alex
Zalo, Daniel
Doino, Ruggero
Karver, Jonathan
Orgeira Pillai, Nicolas
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Abstract
This paper provides novel evidence of the trade-offs policy makers face when designing simplified tax regimes for small businesses. First, it provides a comprehensive stocktaking of the main features of these regimes across Sub-Saharan Africa: they are adopted by two-thirds of countries, but their design varies greatly. Second, it draws on administrative and survey data for a thorough examination of a specific simplified tax regime. This analysis shows most small businesses lack knowledge about design features, such as the existence of a minimum exemption threshold, but they react strongly to increases in tax rates by lowering their declared turnover. Finally, the paper presents the results of an experiment that encourages taxpayers to pay fixed amounts—a potential alternative design of a simplified tax regime that aims for a better balance of the trade-offs facing policy makers. The findings show that providing simple guidance about how much small businesses with similar characteristics typically pay in taxes can increase revenue, but this reduces equity among taxpayers.
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“Hoy, Christopher; Scot, Thiago; Oguso, Alex; Custers, Anna; Zalo, Daniel; Doino, Ruggero; Karver, Jonathan; Orgeira Pillai, Nicolas. 2024. Trade-offs in the Design of Simplified Tax Regimes: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa. Policy Research Working Paper; 10909. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/42165 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
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