2013 The tax burden of typical workers in the EU 27
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This report analyzes the tax burden on workers in the 27 EU member states, revealing that the average 'real tax rate' slightly increased from 44.89% in 2012 to 45.06% in 2013, largely due to VAT hikes. Belgium continues to have the highest labor tax rates, with its 'tax liberation day' falling on August 8, while countries with flat tax systems have shown mixed results in terms of tax relief and overall rates. The study aims to provide a clear comparison of tax burdens and the true cost of hiring employees across Europe.
2013 The tax burden of typical workers in the EU 27
- 1. Data provided by NEW DIRECTION│Page 1 of 16 (Cover page) The Tax Burden of Typical Workers in the EU 27 2013 Edition James Rogers & Cécile Philippe May 2013
- 2. Data provided by NEW DIRECTION│Page 2 of 16 The Tax Burden of Typical Workers in the EU 27 2013 James Rogers Cécile Philippe Institut Économique Molinari, Paris This report was produced by New Direction – The Foundation for European Reform, a free market, euro-realist think-tank established in 2010 in Brussels. It is affiliated to the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists (AECR). New Direction seeks to promote policies and values consistent with the 2009 Prague Declaration to help steer the European Union on a different course and to shape the views of governments and key opinion formers in EU member states and beyond. The views expressed in New Direction’s reports are those of the authors and do not necessary reflect the views of all members of New Direction. This publication received funding from the European Parliament. However, the views expressed in it do not necessarily reflect those of the European Parliament. May 2013 Printed in Belgium ISBN: 978-2-87555-032-3 Publisher and copyright holder: New Direction – The Foundation for European Reform Rue d'Arlon 40, 1000 Brussels, Belgium Phone: +32 2 808 7847 Email: [email protected] www.newdirectionfoundation.org
- 3. Data provided by NEW DIRECTION│Page 3 of 16 Table of Contents Objective of the Study................................................................................................................4 Study interest .........................................................................................................................4 Main Results...............................................................................................................................5 Taxes continue to rise in Europe ............................................................................................5 Losers and winners.................................................................................................................5 Flat tax policies offer mixed results........................................................................................6 Definitions and Methodology ....................................................................................................7 2013 Tax Liberation Day Calendar .............................................................................................8 Data Summary............................................................................................................................9 Research Notes.........................................................................................................................10 Country Notes ..........................................................................................................................12 Appendix 1: Employer Cost of €1 net.......................................................................................13 Appendix 2: Taxation of Workers and Tax Revenue as a Portion of GDP................................14 Endnotes...................................................................................................................................15
- 4. Data provided by NEW DIRECTION│Page 4 of 16 Objective of the Study The purpose of this study is to compare the tax and social burdens of salaried employees in the 27 Member States of the European Union and, in doing so, determine a “tax liberation day” for individuals who are working in those countries. In addition, the study tracks year-to-year trends in the taxation of labour. Study interest Numerous studies rank political systems by various measures of “economic freedom”. While valuable to economists, the aggregate data in these studies fails to shed light on the working individual’s role in financing their state and social security. In addition, many think tanks determine an annual “tax freedom day” for their countries. Unfortunately, conflicting approaches to this calculation make cross-border comparisons difficult. This study aims to create an “apples to apples” comparison of “real tax rates”, with data that reflect the reality experienced by real, working people in the European Union. Further, it serves as a guide to the true cost of hiring employees in each state.
- 5. Data provided by NEW DIRECTION│Page 5 of 16 Main Results Taxes continue to rise in Europe Typical workers in the European Union saw their average “real tax rate” rise again this year, from 44.89% in 2012 to 45.06% in 2013. The rise of 1.07% since this study series began in 2010 is, to a large extent, a consequence of VAT increases in 16 EU member states. 43.4% of all payroll taxes collected in the EU – employer contributions to social security paid on top of gross salaries – are largely invisible to employees. Retired, disabled, disenfranchised or simply too young, more than half (54.5%) of EU citizens are not in the labour force1. Tax-wise, working people carry most of the weight – a weight that grows heavier as populations grow even older. Since 2010, the proportion of Europeans outside the labour force has grown 0.2%. Losers and winners Belgium retains its ranking as the country that taxes labour at the highest rate in the European Union. An employer in Brussels now spends 2.52€ (0.07€ more than a year ago) to put 1€ into a typical worker’s pocket – and that worker’s tax liberation day is August 8. Belgium has held its position since 2011 when Hungary, previously the most severe tax collector, implemented a flat tax scheme (see below).
- 6. Data provided by NEW DIRECTION│Page 6 of 16 Flat tax policies offer mixed results Flat tax policies have offered considerable tax relief to workers in some countries – notably Hungary, where a 16% rate has brought that country’s tax liberation day forward by 22 days over three years. However, overall taxes remain higher in "flat tax" countries (46.82%) than in "progressive" systems (44.56%) – a gap that has widened since 2010 (when they were nearly identical). Many of the purported benefits of flat tax rates have been proven true. Their simplicity facilitates compliance. Their low, “not-worth-the-crime” rates have prompted many underground dealers to emerge as “legitimate” businessmen. While providing tax relief to typical workers, they have also been successful in increasing overall tax revenues. The flat rate is, after all, only a flat income tax rate. Social security contributions in these countries are far higher than in progressive systems. Moreover, 5 of the EU’s 6 flat tax countries (all except Bulgaria) have raised VAT rates since 2009, with Hungary implementing two increases totalling 7%.
- 7. Data provided by NEW DIRECTION│Page 7 of 16 Definitions and Methodology The following terms are used in this study: Real Gross Salary represents the total cost of employing an individual, including social security contributions made on top of an employee’s salary. Real Net Salary is the “bottom line” figure: How much cash a worker has to spend that will not be paid to the state. (Other additional taxes – such as those on petrol, cigarettes, and alcohol – are not considered in this study.) An individual’s Real Tax Rate is: Social Security Contributions + Income Tax + VAT Real Gross Salary This percentage of 365 determines the Tax Liberation Day, the calendar date on which an employee (beginning work, in theory, on January 1st ) would earn enough to pay his annual tax burden.
- 8. Data provided by NEW DIRECTION│Page 8 of 16 2013 Tax Liberation Day Calendar MARCH 14 Cyprus APRIL 24 Ireland 29 Malta MAY 13 United Kingdom 18 Bulgaria 25 Luxembourg JUNE 04 Portugal 06 Denmark 07 Slovenia 12 Poland 12 Spain 14 Estonia 17 Greece 18 Lithuania 19 Finland 19 Czech Republic 20 Slovakia 22 Sweden 27 Netherlands 27 Latvia JULY 01 Romania 10 Italy 13 Germany 16 Hungary 23 Austria 26 France AUGUST 08 Belgium
- 9. Data provided by NEW DIRECTION│Page 9 of 16 Data Summary (ALL FIGURES IN EUROS) Country Real Gross Salary2 Employer Social Security Gross Salary 3 Income Tax Employee Social Security Take-home Pay (Net Income) VAT Rate Estimated VAT Real Net Salary Real Tax Rate Tax Liberation Day 2013 Austria 51,552 12,289 39,263 7,782 7,095 24,386 20.0% 1,585 22,801 55.77% 23 July Belgium 58,235 15,495 42,740 12,338 5,558 24,844 21.0% 1,696 23,148 60.25% 8 August Bulgaria †4 3,956 586 3,370 294 435 2,642 20.0% 172 2,470 37.56% 18 May Cyprus 5 25,680 1,635 24,045 582 1,635 21,828 18.0% 1,277 20,551 19.97% 14 March Czech Republic 15,498 3,932 11,566 1,383 1,272 8,910 21.0% 608 8,302 46.43% 19 June Denmark 51,610 290 51,321 19,080 145 32,096 25.0% 2,608 29,488 42.86% 6 June Estonia † 13,327 3,411 9,916 1,620 476 7,821 20.0% 508 7,312 45.13% 14 June Finland 50,919 9,474 41,445 8,691 3,159 29,595 24.0% 2,308 27,287 46.41% 19 June France 53,647 17,788 35,859 2,204 8,795 24,860 19.6% 1,584 23,276 56.61% 26 July Germany 52,440 8,585 43,855 8,492 9,089 26,274 19.0% 1,622 24,652 52.99% 13 July Greece 26,197 5,740 20,457 1,888 3,273 15,296 23.0% 1,143 14,153 45.98% 17 June Hungary † 11,546 2,561 8,985 1,467 1,662 5,856 27.0% 514 5,342 53.73% 16 July Ireland 36,372 3,530 32,842 4,654 1,049 27,139 23.0% 2,029 25,110 30.96% 24 April Italy 37,699 8,668 29,031 6,871 2,755 19,405 21.5% 1,356 18,049 52.12% 10 July Latvia † 14,230 2,763 11,467 2,359 1,261 7,847 21.0% 536 7,312 48.62% 27 June Lithuania †6 9,145 2,201 6,944 1,041 625 5,277 21.0% 360 4,917 46.23% 18 June Luxembourg 57,219 7,329 49,890 7,476 6,136 36,278 15.0% 1,769 34,510 39.69% 25 May Malta 21,482 1,953 19,529 2,160 1,953 15,416 18.0% 902 14,514 32.44% 29 April Netherlands 55,065 9,161 45,904 8,320 7,192 30,392 21.0% 2,074 28,317 48.57% 27 June Poland 11,277 1,839 9,439 640 2,027 6,772 23.0% 506 6,266 44.44% 12 June Portugal 21,766 4,177 17,589 2,057 1,935 13,597 23.0% 1,016 12,580 42.20% 4 June Romania † 7,307 1,618 5,689 760 939 3,990 24.0% 311 3,679 49.66% 1 July Slovakia 13,058 3,400 9,658 913 1,294 7,451 20.0% 484 6,967 46.65% 20 June Slovenia 20,170 2,797 17,373 1,273 3,839 12,261 20.0% 797 11,464 43.16% 7 June Spain 32,764 7,541 25,223 4,086 1,602 19,535 21.0% 1,333 18,201 44.45% 12 June Sweden 57,421 13,728 43,693 10,784 0 32,909 25.0% 2,674 30,235 47.35% 22 June United Kingdom 46,767 4,545 42,222 6,448 3,937 31,837 20.0% 2,069 29,768 36.35% 13 May Flat tax countries are marked with a dagger (†). An expanded data table is available at: http://www.institutmolinari.org
- 10. Data provided by NEW DIRECTION│Page 10 of 16 Research Notes Gross Salary When available, figures from the OECD’s Taxing Wages and from Eurostat’s Average gross annual earnings in industry and services served as a starting point for our calculations; other figures came from government statistics offices. In euros, gross salaries ranged from 3,370€ (Bulgaria) to 51,321€ (Denmark). The median gross salary among EU Member States was 24,045€ (Cyprus), and the average among the 27 states was 25,900€. Gross salary figures can be misleading, especially in those countries levying high employer taxes for social security (see below). Employer Contributions to Social Security These taxes – which are invisible to most employees, who see only deductions from their gross salaries on their pay slips – vary to a great degree. For typical workers, these costs range from less than 1% in Sweden and Denmark to nearly 50% in France. Individual Contributions to Social Security Visible on employees’ payslips, the lower and upper reaches of these deductions are also set, respectively, by Sweden and Denmark (less than 1%) and France (nearly 25%). Total Contributions to Social Security Recent tax cuts in Hungary have included social security contributions, leaving France (74.2%) as the only country taking more than half of a typical worker’s gross salary for social security contributions. As a group, flat tax countries collected 39.5% of the average gross salaries as social security contributions; 3.6% more than progressive systems. This gap has narrowed from 9% in 2011 and 5.6% in 2012.
- 11. Data provided by NEW DIRECTION│Page 11 of 16 Personal Income Taxes In Denmark, where combined social security contributions remain the lowest (as a percentage), personal income taxes are the highest (37.2%). Notwithstanding the low rates advertised by governments imposing a flat tax, 9 of the 10 countries assessing income taxes at the lowest rates have progressive systems (the exception being Bulgaria). Estimated Value-Added Tax (VAT) 16 EU Member States have increased VAT rates since 2009, with the largest hikes implemented in Hungary (from 20 to 27% since 2009), the United Kingdom (from 15 to 20%), Spain (from 16 to 21%), Romania (from 19 to 24%) and Greece (from 19 to 23%). Since 2009, the average VAT rate in the EU-27 has risen from 19.5 to 21.3%. To determine estimated VAT we assume, conservatively, that only 32.5% of a worker’s net income will be subject to VAT. Estimated Rent is assumed to be 35% of the employee’s net (take-home) income. After subtracting rent, remaining net income is divided in half to estimate the sum left over that will be subject to VAT when spent.
- 12. Data provided by NEW DIRECTION│Page 12 of 16 Country Notes Belgium Those who believed Belgian taxes could only move in one direction (down) were proven wrong again in this year’s study; 2013’s “tax liberation day” for Belgian workers falls three days later than in 2012. Looking forward, Belgium’s leaders seem keen on holding their country’s “No. 1” position. In March 2013, the Di Rupo government announced plans to reduce debt to 100% of GDP by selling state assets, cutting spending and - of course - raising taxes. Czech Republic On 01 January 2013 the Czech Republic abandoned its flat tax regime in favour of a “two- bracket” system. The 15% flat rate of income tax still applies to gross earnings below CZK 100,000 (approximately 3,885€) per month; a rate of 22% is applied to higher amounts. Italy Italy’s VAT rate rose from 20% to 21% at the end of 2011 and will rise to 22% on 01 July 2013. Thus the typical Italian worker will pay 21% for the first half of 2013 and 22% in the second half. In this report, consequently, we show 21.5% as Italy’s VAT rate. Slovakia Slovakia also called an end to its flat tax regime and, like the Czechs, implemented a “two- bracket” system. The 19% flat rate of income tax still applies to gross earnings below 39,600€ per year; a rate of 25% is applied to higher amounts.
- 13. Data provided by NEW DIRECTION│Page 13 of 16 Appendix 1: Employer Cost of €1 net The chart below shows what employers must spend to pay each net euro to an employee. The figures do not include VAT. € 1.18 € 1.34 € 1.39 € 1.47 € 1.50 € 1.58 € 1.60 € 1.61 € 1.65 € 1.67 € 1.68 € 1.70 € 1.71 € 1.72 € 1.73 € 1.73 € 1.74 € 1.74 € 1.75 € 1.81 € 1.81 € 1.83 € 1.94 € 1.97 € 2.00 € 2.11 € 2.16 € 2.34 - 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 Cyprus Ireland Malta United Kingdom Bulgaria Luxembourg Portugal Denmark Slovenia Poland Spain Estonia Greece Finland EU Average Lithuania Czech Republic Sweden Slovakia Netherlands Latvia Romania Italy Hungary Germany Austria France Belgium €1 to Employee Employer Social Security Income Tax Employee Social Security Total
- 14. Data provided by NEW DIRECTION│Page 14 of 16 Appendix 2: Taxation of Workers and Tax Revenue as a Portion of GDP The table below compares the “real tax rate” paid by typical workers in each EU member state to that same country’s ratio of tax revenue to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Most countries that have a high “real tax rate” also have high taxes overall, though some, notably in Eastern Europe, combine high taxes on labour with a relatively low overall burden. Country Real Tax Rate total tax revenue as a percentage of GDP 7 Romania 49.7% 28.0% Ireland 31.0% 28.2% Slovakia 46.7% 28.8% Latvia 48.6% 28.9% Lithuania 46.2% 30.3% Greece 46.0% 31.2% Portugal 42.2% 31.3% Spain 44.5% 33.6% Poland 44.4% 31.7% Estonia 45.1% 32.8% Bulgaria 37.6% 33.3% Czech Republic 46.4% 35.3% United Kingdom 36.4% 35.5% Hungary 53.7% 35.7% Slovenia 43.2% 36.8% Germany 53.0% 37.1% Luxembourg 39.7% 37.1% Netherlands 48.6% 38.7% Cyprus 20.0% 39.2% Austria 55.8% 42.1% Italy 52.1% 42.9% Finland 46.4% 43.4% Belgium 60.3% 44.0% France 56.6% 44.2% Sweden 47.3% 44.5% Denmark 42.9% 48.1% Malta 32.4% 48.2%
- 15. Data provided by NEW DIRECTION│Page 15 of 16 For more information, please contact the authors of the study: James Rogers [email protected] or Cécile Philippe [email protected] Endnotes Data provided by 1 CIA World Factbook, estimates of EU population (2012) and labour force (2011). 2 Total cost of employment, social security contributions, personal income tax figures and net income calculated by Ernst & Young from gross salary figures provided. 3 Unless otherwise noted, Average Gross Salary figures are from Eurostat’s Annual gross earnings in industry and services (2010) or the OECD’s Taxing Wages (2011). 4 Average Gross Salary figure for Bulgaria is for the manufacturing sector, 2010 data from the International Labour Organization (www.ilo.org). 5 Average Gross Salary figure for employees in Cyprus sourced from www.mof.gov.cy (2011). 6Average Gross salary for manufacturing sector from Statistikos Departamentas (National Statistics Office of Lithuania) database (stat.gov.lt), 2011. 7 Figures for “total tax revenue as a percentage of GDP” are from the OECD (Oct 2012) or, where unavailable, from Eurostat (2008, for Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Malta).
- 16. Data provided by NEW DIRECTION│Page 1 of 16 May 2013 © 2013 New Direction – The Foundation for European Reform Publisher and copyright holder: New Direction – The Foundation for European Reform Rue d’Arlon 40 1000 Brussels, Belgium Telephone: +32 2 808 7847 [email protected]