Denmark and Sweden have the highest taxes

Karoug

Karoug

Techno Viking
Joined
Apr 5, 2006
Messages
6,478
Location
Sweden
Car(s)
Scooter power!!
Sweden second in global tax league

Published: 15 Oct 08 13:38 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/14974/20081015/

Sweden has maintained its position as the country with the second highest tax burden in the world, according to the OECD.

Denmark and Sweden have the highest overall tax rates among advanced countries and Mexico and Turkey the lowest, but the average tax take is running at close to record high levels, the OECD said on Wednesday on data for 2006.

Provisional data for 2007 showed that tax burdens rose in 11 of 26 countries, but fell in 13.

This signalled that the average would probably stay at recent high levels, having declined in 2001-2004, "temporarily reversing a rising trend witnessed since the 1970s," the data showed.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development also warned that the economic slowdown, aggravated by the financial crisis, would reduce tax revenues.

The overall amount of tax levied in the 30 OECD countries in 2006, the latest year for which data is available, was 35.9 percent of output, close to the record of 36.1 percent in 2000.

Denmark and Sweden came first, each with a ratio of 49.1 percent.

Provisional figures for 2007 showed tax revenues in Sweden dropping to 48.2 percent of output, while Denmark registered a 48.9 percent rate.

The countries with the lowest rate of overall taxation were Mexico with 20.6 percent and Turkey with 24.5 percent, on standardized data, the OECD said.

Among the other OECD figures, the ratio for the United States was 28.0 percent, Canada 33.3 percent, Japan 27.9 percent, Finland 43.5 percent, Germany 35.6 percent, Ireland 31.9 percent, Poland 33.5 percent, Britain 37.1 percent and France 44.2 percent.

The OECD, the main policy forum for developed industrialised countries, said that ratios of tax to gross domestic product reflected government choices
in fiscal policy "which can play a distributive role and even out
inequalities."

Surveys showed that there was "a high level of contentment among Danish citizens with the nation's egalitarian society".

But by contrast "Mexico's low tax-to-GDP ratio reflects a lack of redistributive policies and hinders the government's ability to invest in the physical and social infrastructure that is required for a sustainable growth path."

The organization also provided data showing that revenue from taxes on businesses continued to rise to 3.9 percent of GDP in 2006 from 3.7 percent in 2005 and 3.6 percent in 2000, and 2.2 percent in 1975.

The OECD said it was unclear whether or not this trend would continue, since the current economic slowdown would cut into tax revenues. "The current economic slowdown is going to put additional pressure on government budgets," the OECD secretary general Angel Gurria said.

Some of the figures for tax on business as a proportion of national output in 2006 were:

United States 3.3 percent, Australia 6.6 percent, Japan 4.7 percent, New Zealand 5.8 percent, Austria 2.2 percent, Denmark 4.3 percent, Finland 3.4 percent, France 3.0 percent, Germany 2.1 percent, Italy 3.4 percent, Norway 12.9 percent, Ireland 3.8 percent, Poland 2.4 percent, Sweden 3.7 percent, Switzerland 3.0 percent, Turkey 1.5 percent and Britain 4.0 percent.
Click to expand...

I'd like to quote Johnny Rotten on this one: "Ever had the feeling you've been cheated?"
 
I've never read anything so boring ever before in my entire life. I have a strange habit, I have to read something while taking a shit, sometimes there's nothing to read and I've read application instructions and ingredient lists off shampoo bottles. Those were more interesting.
 
I, for one, welcome our new Tax overlords.
 
ahpadt said:
Atleast you get cheap cars and good roads.
Click to expand...

The cars are not THAT cheap, Sweden has the oldest car-fleet in Europe.. And the road are pretty abysmal if you don't live in the southern half of Sweden...
 
Karoug said:
The cars are not THAT cheap, Sweden has the oldest car-fleet in Europe.. And the road are pretty abysmal if you don't live in the southern half of Sweden...
Click to expand...

Are you sure about that, I thought that was us. Or at least it was still some years ago. I couldn't be bothered to read the whole text, bur skimmed through to find us I think 3rd overall. A bit of a surprise, I would have put as 2nd, after Denmark.

Must be said.....it's no tax heaven, Finland that is. My god the amount of things we pay from.....and how much ?!? For example cars and petrol, over 50% (by far) from the final price is from taxes....niiiiice.
 
Karoug said:
The cars are not THAT cheap, Sweden has the oldest car-fleet in Europe.. And the road are pretty abysmal if you don't live in the southern half of Sweden...
Click to expand...

You can get a 911 Turbo in Sweden for the same money as what a M3 would cost in Norway. Also you don't get raped by HP tax.
 
"which can play a distributive role and even out
inequalities."
Click to expand...

Or in other words, equal misery for all. You can put a frilly dress on socialism, but it will still be an ugly pig underneath.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development also warned that the economic slowdown, aggravated by the financial crisis, would reduce tax revenues.
Click to expand...

Oh, cry me a river. Everyone knows that when governments reduce taxes, the citizens spend more thus increasing tax revues. Only a person who has dedicated themselves to government (politicians) cannot understand that.
 
Karoug said:
Surveys showed that there was "a high level of contentment among Danish citizens with the nation's egalitarian society".
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Really, who would have thought that :rolleyes:

Karoug said:
I'd like to quote Johnny Rotten on this one: "Ever had the feeling you've been cheated?"
Click to expand...

<_<

efoolution said:
And don?t Sweden and Denmark have one of the lowest unemployment-rates in Europe and one of the best school-systems in the world? The texes sure are high, but it?s not like Sweden and Denmarkt do nothing good with them ...
Click to expand...

The unemployment is low, but the schools are falling apart.
 
Sigh, it blows. Canada is quite high on the list as well... and it's not just income tax, it's everything else they tax too. Like the new environmental recycling fee they collect on all new electronics, or the sales tax that used to be 14 percent (now 12.5 I believe), or the ridiculous ~20 percent tax on luxury cars that actually applies to a lot of cheaper cars too...

I wouldn't mind the high level of taxation in this country if our social safety net and services were good, but they are not great. Yes, we do have universal health care but it is very problematic.
 
Last edited:
ahpadt said:
You can get a 911 Turbo in Sweden for the same money as what a M3 would cost in Norway. Also you don't get raped by HP tax.
Click to expand...

That might be true, but many Swedes buys their cars in Germany now...

Brother Michael said:
Are you sure about that, I thought that was us. Or at least it was still some years ago.
Click to expand...

I was wrong.. Sweden has the seventh oldest car fleet in Europe.. Finland was Fourth....
 
Last edited:
Karoug said:
That might be true, but many Swedes buys their cars in Germany now...



I was wrong.. Sweden has the seventh oldest car fleet in Europe.. Finland was Fourth....
Click to expand...
Where are you guys getting your info from? :blink:
 
jayhawk said:
Everyone knows that when governments reduce taxes, the citizens spend more thus increasing tax revues. Only a person who has dedicated themselves to government (politicians) cannot understand that.
Click to expand...
Of course, when you reduce taxes to the point that the gov't must borrow money, you drive up interest rates, stifling growth.
 
I like our taxes. It's easy to get spoiled in a country like this and take things for granted. But the fact is you cant eat the cookie and keep it. Taxes pays for our way of life, and I for one enjoy knowing that I will not get a hefty bill from the hospital if I get sick or injured and that I have paid my childrens education and my own care when I grow old through taxes.

I think people would be more thankful for the system if they knew the real costs involved, for example every 24 hours in intensive care is approximately 35 000 SEK, a simple birth is 19 000 SEK, appendix surgery is 30 000 SEK. Putting your kids through high school would cost you 75 000 - 160 000 SEK a year depending on if your child wants to be a librarian or a farmer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top