Tax revenue in the European Union

Tax revenues (including social contributions) account for just over 90% of total general government revenue in the European Union. In the EU-27 in 2009, the revenue from social contributions has proven to be more stable in absolute terms than the revenue from current taxes on income and wealth. These two types of revenue made up 35.5% and 30.9% respectively of total tax revenue, while taxes on production and imports made up 33.1% of tax revenue. The share of social contributions has increased noticeably from 2008 to 2009, while the share of current taxes on income, wealth, etc. has fallen. The impact of the economic and financial crisis, together with counter-measures of fiscal policy adopted in the countries, has now become fully visible for tax revenues, with tax revenues falling, both relative to GDP and in absolute terms, as well as the relative weight of tax components changing.