Tax Expenditure and Public Expenditure in the UK

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Abstract
‘Tax expenditures’ are public revenue losses which result from special allowances and reliefs given to various categories of taxpayer for reasons of economic and social policy. In 1983/4 tax expenditures in the personal income tax system cost nearly £11 billion which was equal to 35 per cent of revenue from personal income tax or 9 per cent of total public expenditure. This paper assesses their significance in the context of public expenditure and tax policy. It identifies those allowances and reliefs in the personal income tax system which may be regarded as tax expenditures, evaluates them and compares their cost with direct expenditures in similar areas. Many tax expenditures are inequitable and inefficient; and they are difficult for governments to control. If they were reduced some public expenditures could be protected from cuts, or the general burden of income tax could be reduced.

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