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Live chat: Does tax have to be taxing? Live chat: Does tax have to be taxing?
(4 days later)
Against a backdrop of recession in Europe, news stories exposing multi-national corporations for tax avoidance in developing countries and G8 meetings to address global issues, there have been widespread calls for international tax reform.Against a backdrop of recession in Europe, news stories exposing multi-national corporations for tax avoidance in developing countries and G8 meetings to address global issues, there have been widespread calls for international tax reform.
According to Oxfam, tax evasion costs African countries $38b per year. Efforts of the multi-NGO 'If' campaign to lobby governments to act on tax evasion helped encourage the G8 to agree a tax deal in June. But despite blling it as "the biggest bilateral trade agreement in history", David Cameron was criticised for failing to persuade other leaders to make any new binding committments.According to Oxfam, tax evasion costs African countries $38b per year. Efforts of the multi-NGO 'If' campaign to lobby governments to act on tax evasion helped encourage the G8 to agree a tax deal in June. But despite blling it as "the biggest bilateral trade agreement in history", David Cameron was criticised for failing to persuade other leaders to make any new binding committments.
But discussions around global tax systems and their impacts on development go beyond slamming tax-dodging corporations. Policymakers, NGOs (pdf) and academics are all focusing on how developing country governments themselves can collect more tax from their citizens.But discussions around global tax systems and their impacts on development go beyond slamming tax-dodging corporations. Policymakers, NGOs (pdf) and academics are all focusing on how developing country governments themselves can collect more tax from their citizens.
Taxes can help promote economic growth, reduce inequalities, help tackle climate change and fund delivery of development targets. Tax-GDP ratios in developing countries show scope for more taxes to be collected, which would then be used to finance public services.Taxes can help promote economic growth, reduce inequalities, help tackle climate change and fund delivery of development targets. Tax-GDP ratios in developing countries show scope for more taxes to be collected, which would then be used to finance public services.
The challenge for developing country governments is to create tax systems that are effective and fair, but many lack the capacity to do so on their own. Tax collection is particularly difficult in areas where taxpayer morale is low (pdf) and corruption is entrenched, or where many work in 'hard to tax' (pdf) sectors like small businesses or farms.The challenge for developing country governments is to create tax systems that are effective and fair, but many lack the capacity to do so on their own. Tax collection is particularly difficult in areas where taxpayer morale is low (pdf) and corruption is entrenched, or where many work in 'hard to tax' (pdf) sectors like small businesses or farms.
So how can tax revenue loss in developing countries be reduced? How can governments be supported to collect tax fairly? And finally, how do you minimise corruption - in both public and private sectors - and build a culture where taxes facilitate civic engagement?So how can tax revenue loss in developing countries be reduced? How can governments be supported to collect tax fairly? And finally, how do you minimise corruption - in both public and private sectors - and build a culture where taxes facilitate civic engagement?
Join our panel to discuss these questions and more in our live discussion on Thursday, 19th September, from 1-3pm BST.Join our panel to discuss these questions and more in our live discussion on Thursday, 19th September, from 1-3pm BST.
The live chat is not video or audio-enabled but will take place in the comments section (below). If you are unable to get online on Thursday, email your views to globaldevpros@theguardian.com or follow our tweets using the hashtag #globaldevliveThe live chat is not video or audio-enabled but will take place in the comments section (below). If you are unable to get online on Thursday, email your views to globaldevpros@theguardian.com or follow our tweets using the hashtag #globaldevlive
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