World Bank: Third Tax Conference Discusses Environmental Taxes
The first day of the Third World Bank Tax Conference on 30 September 2021 included a session on environmental taxes, focusing on carbon pricing and carbon taxes. Some issues raised in the discussion are summarised below. Carbon rebate
See MoreUN: Tax Committee Approves Handbook on Carbon Taxation for Developing Countries
The twenty-second session of the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters, held from 19 to 28 April 2021 has approved the final chapters of the Handbook on Carbon Taxation for Developing Countries. The whole publication
See MoreIMF: Analysis of Fiscal Measures to Reduce US Emissions
An IMF blog of 10 March 2021 entitled A New Vision for the US Climate Agenda looks at fiscal actions that would help curb emissions. The US climate plan aims for US carbon neutrality by 2050, achieved by public funding for clean energy
See MoreOECD: Report to the Meeting of G20 Finance Ministers
The OECD has published on its website the report prepared for the meeting of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors held on 27 February 2021. Taxation of the Digital Economy Unless an international consensus solution is found for
See MoreOECD: Combining Green Budgeting and Tax Policy Tools
An OECD Environment Focus published on the website on 29 October 2020 looked at the use of a combination of green budgeting and environmental tax policy to bring about an improved economic recovery after the pandemic. The OECD note referred to a
See MoreIceland: Parliament approves a bill to implement tax measures under 2021 budget
On 1 October 2020, the Icelandic Parliament approved a Bill No.5 in order to implement tax measures under the 2021 budget. The bill includes the following measures; Taxes on carbon, alcohol and tobacco, oil, and car tax increased by
See MoreIMF: Securing China’s Post-Pandemic Recovery
On 24 September 2020 a blog post by the IMF’s First Deputy Managing Director Forum on National Affairs looked at reforms needed to ensure China’s recovery from the economic problems caused by the pandemic. Global Economic Outlook The blog
See MoreEU: Climate Mitigation Policy
On 16 September 2020 the European Union (EU) published on its website a departmental paper on EU Climate Mitigation Policy. The EU’s Emission Trading System (ETS) limits the total amount of emissions and allows participants to trade emission
See MoreOECD: Tax Policy for Economic Recovery
An OECD blog post on 3 September 2020 noted that countries have generally acted quickly to limit the economic consequences of the COVID-19 crisis, introducing fiscal packages of various sizes focusing on income support for households and
See MoreUK: Consultation on Carbon Emissions Tax
On 21 July 2020 the UK issued a consultation document in relation to the detailed operation of a carbon emissions tax. Comments are invited from interested parties by 29 September 2020. Emissions Trading System Under the withdrawal agreement
See MoreUN: Virtual Meetings of the Committee of Tax Experts
The UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters held their twentieth session in the form of a series of virtual meetings from 22 to 26 June 2020. In the meetings the Committee emphasised the need to provide guidance and
See MoreOECD: Working Paper on Effectiveness of Carbon Pricing Design
An OECD working paper entitled Carbon Pricing Design: Effectiveness, Efficiency and Feasibility was posted on the OECD website on 22 June 2020. The paper notes that carbon pricing helps countries to achieve carbon neutrality and looks at ways to
See MoreUN: Meeting of Committee of Experts on Taxation
The nineteenth session of the United Nations Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters was held from 15 to 18 October 2018. Issues discussed included transfer pricing, updates to the UN Model Tax Convention, dispute
See MoreSouth Africa introduces Budget 2019 in parliament
On 20 February 2019, Tito Mboweni (South Africa’s Minister of Finance) presented the Budget 2019 in the parliament. The budget proposal would not increase taxes in any category but proposed to increase tax collection by not adjusting for inflation
See MoreSouth Africa: Finance Minister presents the Budget for 2018
On 21 February 2018, South Africa’s Minister of Finance, Malusi Gigaba, delivered the Budget for the year of 2018. The budget includes the following tax proposals: VAT rate to increase from 14% to 15%. This change is effective from 1 April
See MoreOECD: Taxing Energy Use 2018
On 14 February 2018 the OECD issued Taxing Energy Use 2018, a publication that summarises the patterns of energy taxation in 42 countries of the OECD and G20. The countries included in the publication account for around 80% of global energy use. The
See MoreSouth Africa: National Treasury issues 2nd draft of the carbon tax bill for public comment
On 14 December 2017, the National Treasury was published the 2nd draft of the Carbon Tax Bill for public comment and presented in Parliament. The version of the second draft law is generally follows the first version (published in 2015) but reflects
See MoreOECD research considers the effectiveness of carbon tax and emissions trading
A report released by the OECD on 26 September 2016 entitled Effective Carbon Rates: Pricing CO2 through Taxes and Emission Trading Systems suggests that current carbon prices are not high enough to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The research also
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