Taiwan Sees World's Lowest Tax Burden Rate of 11.9% in 2010
2011/01/27 | By Judy LiTaipei, Jan. 27, 2011 (CENS)--Taiwan's per capita tax burden rate (tax revenue divided by GDP) fell under 12% to 11.9% in 2010, the third lowest of its kind ever recorded and likely the lowest in the world, according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF).
Last year, the government's total tax revenues reached NT$1.6133 trillion (US$52.042 billion), up 5.4% from a year earlier; while the GDP came to NT$13.5228 trillion (US$436.22 billion) for an annual rise of 9.98%. As a result, the per capita tax burden rate fell to 11.9%, only higher than 11.8% in 2002 and 11.7% in 2003.
In 1990 Taiwan's tax burden rate stood at 20%, which declined gradually ever since to 13.9% in 2008, quite close to Singapore's corresponding figure of 13.7% and much lower than Japan's 17.3% and South Korea's 20.7%.
Taiwan saw its per capita tax burden rate keep falling to 12.2% in 2009 and 11.9% in 2010, which is believed the lowest in the world.
Tax Burden Rates of Taiwan and Singapore Unit: % | ||
Year | Taiwan | Singapore |
2006 | 13.1 | 12.5 |
2007 | 13.4 | 13.5 |
2008 | 13.9 | 13.7 |
2009 | 12.2 | 13.3 |
2010 | 11.9 | -- |