The Top 12 Most Oppressive Tax Countries

Subject: The Top 12 Most Oppressive Tax Countries Fri Jul 03, 2009 6:04 am

For those you who feel like taxes are nothing but the Man keeping you down, perhaps a reason to celebrate: you live in only the 12th most oppressive tax nation!

A Swiss policy institute that promotes tax competition evaluated the 30 OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) nations on three main categories - tax attractiveness, public governance and financial privacy - to determine which countries, tax-wise, are the most life-sucking.

Here are the Twelve Most Oppressive →

#12 - USA
Though the US has one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world, our general stability (as compared to the rest of the world - we may not be in great shape, but a military coup is unlikely) - landed us at No. 12.

#11 - United Kingdom
It was not until 1992 that the Queen had to bear her own tax burden - she started paying income tax that year. Depending on income, her fellow countrymen may pay as much as 50%.

#10 - Greece
Needing to increase revenue, the Greek government asked for more than usual from their citizens this year - depending on income and in addition to normal tax requirments, a one-off tax ranging from 1000 to 4000 euros was imposed.

#9 - France
After years of lobbying by Paris, the price of dining in France is cheaper as of yesterday. The value-added tax will be reduced to 5.5 percent from 19.6 percent.

#8 - Hungary
Hungarians are not as lucky as the French when it comes to the V.A.T this year; in April the prime minister announced the stadard V.A.T. will jump from 20 percent to 25 percent.

#7 - Belgium
Despite being the 6th most oppresive tax country, Belgium has created a healthy tax haven for the entertainment industry; companies based in Belgium recieve a 150% tax break on investments in motion pictures, documentaries, animation and some television productions.

#6 The Netherlands
The self-employed in the Netherlands have a strong incentive to incorporate themselves - the top tax rate for a corporation is 35 percent while individuals pay as much as 60 percent.

#5 - Germany
On top of their progressive income tax rate, which can reach 45 percent, Germans are obligated to pay a "solidarity surcharge" of 5.5 percent of their income.

#4 - Mexico
Only 8.8 percent of Mexico's GDP comes from income and sales tax, less than half the average of other developed nations, according to a recent Reuters article. As Mexico continues to struggle, tax reform - in the way of higher taxes - may be on the horizon.

# 3 - Poland
Poland, according to the oppression index, is fairly attractive tax-wise, but a lack of confidence in the government and minimal financial privacy make it the number three most oppressive tax nation.

#2 - Turkey
The current corporate tax rate in Turkey is 20 percent, but an incentive package proposed for 2010 will bring that way down; in certain regions the corporate tax would be as low as two percent.

No. 1 - Italy
For such a beautiful country, Italy is just not tax attractive. A 43 percent personal income tax rate at the top level and an effective corporate tax rate of more than 31 percent, combined with regional taxes, means a lot of money moves from Italian citizens to the well-lined pockets of Silvio Berlusconi.

http://www.businessinsider.com/oppressive-tax-nations-2009-7

YaY! Go Turkey!!!

The neo-tax haven on the horizon...

Subject: Re: The Top 12 Most Oppressive Tax Countries Fri Jul 03, 2009 6:17 am

Quote :: Germans are obligated to pay a "solidarity surcharge" of 5.5 percent of their income.

:Madness:

Subject: Re: The Top 12 Most Oppressive Tax Countries Fri Jul 03, 2009 6:49 am

The Top 12 Most Oppressive Tax Countries

The Top 12 Most Oppressive Tax Countries

Anarcho-Capitalist Categorical Imperatives

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