The sources of VAT gaps in WAEMU: case studies on Benin and Burkina Faso

Romain Houssa, Kelbesa Megersa and Roukiatou Nikiema ()
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Roukiatou Nikiema: Ouaga II University

No 122, BeFinD Working Papers from University of Namur, Department of Economics

Abstract: This paper examines the performance of the Value-Added Tax (VAT) in Benin and Burkina Faso since its introduction in the early 1990s. Both countries are witnessing a gradual rise in tax revenue over the study period. The paper also delivers a sectoral breakdown of inefficiencies in VAT-revenue collection in the two countries. We additionally decompose VAT gap in to ‘compliance gap’ and the ‘policy gap’. We find that the sectors responsible for ‘compliance gap’ are largely similar in the two countries. The gaps in VAT collection represent a considerable loss in potential tax revenue. Addressing them will support the ‘Domestic Resource Mobilization’ (DRM) efforts of the two countries.

Keywords: Value-Added Tax (VAT); Domestic Resources Mobilization (DRM); Tax Reform; Institutional Quality; Economic development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H20 H21 H25 H26 O11 O17 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 55 pages
Date: 2017-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-acc, nep-iue and nep-pbe
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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http://www.befind.be/Documents/WPs/wp22 First version, 2017 (application/pdf)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nam:befdwp:0122

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