Taxation trends in the European Union – data for the EU Member States and Norway. 2007 edition

This report contains a detailed statistical and economic analysis of the tax systems of the Member States of the European Union and Norway. The data are presented within a unified statistical framework (the ESA95 harmonised system of national and regional accounts), which makes it possible to assess the heterogeneous national tax systems on a fully comparable basis.

The standard classifications of tax revenues (by major type of tax or by level of government) presented in most international tax revenue statistics are hard to interpret in economic terms. This publication stands out for offering a breakdown of tax revenues by economic function (i.e. according to whether they are raised on consumption, labour or capital). This classification is based on disaggregated tax data and on a breakdown of the revenue from the personal income tax. In addition, the report contains indicators of the average effective tax burden on consumption, labour and capital.

Country chapters give an overview of the tax system in each of the 28 countries covered, the revenue trends and the main recent policy changes. Detailed tables allow comparison between the individual countries and European averages. Data cover the 1995-2005 period and are presented both as a percentage of GDP and as a percentage of total taxation.