THE ESSENTIAL CONTENT OF THE CONCEPT OF TAX BURDEN IN THE
ECONOMY
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8174687
Annotation
:
This article examines issues such as the theory of
taxation and the practical implications of the tax burden. It explores
determining the most favorable levels of the tax burden and
calculating it.
Key words
:
Tax, tax burden, levels of tax burden, calculation of
tax burden, absolute tax burden, entrepreneur
In both theory
and practice of taxation, the problem of
determining the most favorable tax burden has always existed. The
level of tax revenues is influenced not only by socio-economic factors
but also by the effective utilization of the tax system and its ability to
fulfill its tasks. The impact of these functions can be assessed by
examining the tax burden on economic entities. Ranking the
economy based on the overall level of the tax burden is also
increasingly important.
Many economists have studied the level of the tax burden and its
influence on economic development and the standard of living of the
population through taxes.
The use of reasonable, fair, and realistic
options for the tax burden during a certain period ensures the efficient
development of the economy in many developed countries. When
managing the economy through taxes, particularly in achieving
sectoral harmony, it is necessary to study the relevant tax burden
situation in different sectors and industries.
The tax burden on economic entities reflects the state's tax policy
and provides a qualitative description of any tax system. Furthermore,
the level of taxes is determined by both
the efficiency of social
production and the financial resources required by the state.
Therefore, reducing the tax burden depends primarily on reducing
state expenses and the level of payment for social services.
Some experts associate the effectiveness of the tax system with
the contribution of taxes to GDP, while others recommend calculating
the tax burden by considering all payments, including allocations to
extra-budgetary funds and the volume of product sales.
Describing the distribution of the tax burden among members of
society, it can be said that most production taxes, especially indirect
taxes, are included in the cost of goods and ultimately borne by the
consumer. The tax burden on the population, or the tax potential per
capita, can be determined in relation to the average per capita
income.
Based on this, when calculating the tax potential of the entire
country, the tax burden is calculated as the sum of all tax amounts
and insurance contributions. When calculating the tax burden related
to the labor of hired employees, all taxes are added together, and the
weight of the tax burden is proposed to be determined by the share
of the value weight and adjusted (increased) by the tax burden
coefficient of the population.
The aforementioned methodology for calculating the tax burden
as a tax share in GDP is simple and widely used in foreign countries.
However, currently, this methodology does
not allow for comparing
the level of tax burden at the micro level for enterprises in different
production branches and sectors of the economy.
The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the State
Tax Committee have recommended a methodology for calculating
the tax burden on legal entities. In this methodology, the tax burden is
determined by a ratio that includes all calculated taxes, fees, and
other mandatory payments, the calculated amount of payments to
extra-budgetary funds, the volume of product sales, and income from
other sales.
An increase in wage expenses affects the increase in payments
to extra-budgetary funds. Additionally, fines paid as a result of late tax
payments can also contribute to an increase in the tax burden.
When determining the tax burden, it is necessary to distinguish
between absolute and relative tax burden. The absolute tax burden
represents
the total amount of taxes, fees, and other mandatory
payments transferred to budgetary and extra-budgetary funds,
indicating the total tax liabilities of economic entities. In statistical
reports, this indicator includes the actual transfer of tax payments to
the budget and mandatory insurance contributions to extra-
budgetary funds, as well as monitoring these payments.
Insurance contributions paid by
business entities to extra-
budgetary funds are compulsory payments with a tax character, and
they should be taken into account when calculating the tax burden.
However, the absolute tax burden does not represent a conflict
of tax obligations. This indicator does not reflect the compatibility of
the sources of payment with the number of taxpayers. Therefore, it is
more appropriate to use the relative tax burden indicator.
The relative tax burden is understood as the ratio of its absolute
amount to the newly created value, which includes the contribution
of taxes, fees, and other mandatory payments, as well as its
dependence on the newly created value.
The source of tax payments is the value added. Value added
refers to the value of goods and services, reduced by intermediate
consumption, which is viewed as consumption from the perspective
of further production. Different methods of tax collection aim to obtain
a portion of the added value.
Thus, the impact of the tax burden
on business activity is
undeniable. Its effect can be either negative or positive. When the tax
burden is heavy, business activity slows down and may even come to
a halt. On the other hand, a relatively lighter tax burden stimulates
business activity. However, it is not appropriate to interpret a reduction
in the tax burden as the sole reason
for the development of
entrepreneurship. Additionally, reducing the tax burden has its logical
limit, which is largely associated with the expenses to be covered by
the state budget. Therefore, in our view, in order to further stimulate
business activities in Uzbekistan, it is necessary to consider the
redistribution of the tax burden among
different sectors of the
economy as an urgent issue, rather than further easing the tax burden.