Experts discuss tax as a force for good: rebalancing our tax systems to support a global economy fit for the future
Date
01 Mar 2019
Sections
Euro & Finance
EU and global expert discussed how shifting tax from labour to natural resource use, pollution and consumption could help meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and an inclusive, circular economy at a recent joint ACCA-Deloitte event in Brussels.
The foundations of modern tax systems were laid down in the era of the industrial revolution. Considering today’s fast-changing world, tax systems will need to adapt. Just as we now see our planet as an interconnected system, we must take a fresh look at our tax systems as a whole.
This was precisely the aim of ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and Deloitte’s lively debate that discussed Tax as a force for good: Rebalancing our tax systems to support a global economy fit for the future in Brussels.
Gianmarco Monsellato, EU Tax Public Policy Leader at Deloitte EU Policy Center opened the debate with strong words: “Tax is necessary, green economy is vital. Do not downgrade green economy to a new basis for raising tax revenue, but price the cost of pollution through allocated tax and use focused public spending via negative tax or other means.
The best way to use tax to promote the shift to a green economy is to have an efficient tax system that provides funding for public policies defined as a force of good: neutral tax is a powerful policy tool!”
The debate confirmed that EU tax systems are out of sync with the main challenges of our time, such as globalisation, digitisation, climate disruption, pollution, water scarcity, waste, unemployment and underemployment. Climate change and the transition towards a cleaner energy are a priority in the political agenda.The question is how to better balance different tax bases and align policy with the goals of inclusive circular growth. Taxation has an important role to internalise externalities. Specific tax measures, such as a carbon tax, landfill levies or taxes on single-use plastic, may help but they are no longer enough. In order to craft a tax system that is fit for the 21st century, it is necessary to think more widely about what governments should be taxing, and how the tax revenues should be used.
Several speakers however stressed that it is crucial to consider policy intent and its revenue implications together: carbon taxes raise revenue and thus create opportunities, while subsidies and tax expenditures spend revenue and thus harden existing challenges. It is also necessary to consider the impact on environment of environmental taxes, who would pay them, as well as the link with growth and jobs, and whether these taxes would generate sufficient revenues for redistribution. The difficulties to find a uniform answer within the EU to the question was also stressed, but the EU is a useful laboratory to verify what can be agreed between sovereign Member States with a variety of interests.
Vice-President of the European Parliament, Heidi Hautala, MEP, said “Tax has been and still is a force for good. However, situation differs in all countries: the willingness of people to pay tax varies and it is important to understand the societies, their traditions and challenges.
It is time for us all to be active in this debate because otherwise we will come up with very clumsy instruments and we will not be able to get the results that we need. We need to go towards a just transition. If there is a feeling of tax injustice, people won’t follow our ideas. The EU is in the perfect place to discuss how this just transition can look like”.
Yen-pei Chen, Tax and Corporate Reporting manager at ACCA’ concluded: “As we stare into the face of climate crises around the world, ACCA wants to shine the spotlight on how our tax systems can really evolve to become a force for good, one that works for our societies and our planet. Of course, as we illustrate in our recent report, tax is only one among a range of different policy options to halt the pace of climate change: regulation, green incentives, and changes to capital markets, such as those that the EU’s sustainable finance action plan seek to bring about, must all play a role.
It’s often too easy to focus on individual measures, but we urge everybody to take a step back, and think holistically about how the different actions that are at our disposal interact with each other, and the wider knock-on impacts that these interactions can have on our societies and our planet”.
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About ACCA
ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the global body for professional accountants, offering business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management.
ACCA supports its 208,000 members and 503,000 students in 179 countries, helping them to develop successful careers in accounting and business, with the skills required by employers. ACCA works through a network of 104 offices and centres and more than 7,300 Approved Employers worldwide, who provide high standards of employee learning and development. Through its public interest remit, ACCA promotes appropriate regulation of accounting and conducts relevant research to ensure accountancy continues to grow in reputation and influence.
ACCA has introduced major innovations to its flagship qualification to ensure its members and future members continue to be the most valued, up to date and sought-after accountancy professionals globally.
Founded in 1904, ACCA has consistently held unique core values: opportunity, diversity, innovation, integrity and accountability. More information is here: www.accaglobal.com
About Deloitte
Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited ("DTTL"), its global network of member firms and their related entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more.
Deloitte is a leading global provider of audit and assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax and related services. Our network of member firms in more than 150 countries and territories serves four out of five Fortune Global 500® companies. Learn how Deloitte’s approximately 286,000 people make an impact that matters at www.deloitte.com.
This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, its member firms or their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte network”) is, by means of this communication, rendering professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. No entity in the Deloitte network shall be responsible for any loss whatsoever sustained by any person who relies on this communication.
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