Estimating the fiscal and regulatory role of value added tax

• Published in: Galic'kij ekonomičnij visnik 2020, Vol.67 (6), p.129-136
• Main Authors: Lobodina, Z., Kizyma, A., Marushchak, L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2409-8892
• DOI: 10.33108/galicianvisnyk_tntu2020.06.129

The impact of value added tax (hereinafter – VAT) on the socio-economic development of the state is investigated in this paper. Here it is considered as a tool of the mechanism of budgetary resources formation and regulation of taxpayers’ welfare and activities. It is determined that, in addition to the reduction of tax rate, the public authorities and local governments should provide favorable conditions for doing business, implement measures for anticorruption and market anti-monopoly. To compensate for the expences of budgetary resources occurring as a result of possible reduction in the value added tax rate, it is necessary to look for alternative sources of pumping up the state budget. Such situation could weaken Ukraine's competitiveness, increase distrust of potential investors, and deactivate attracting investments into the country's economy. In order to stimulate certain economic activities, to increase the volume or the level of availability of certain goods (services)consumption, the tax legislation provides certain preferences for value added tax, particularly – lowering the tax rate, tax exemptions, , tax credit, tax benefits. In addition, the regulatory impact of VAT as a financial instrument on the taxation system is revealed in this paper. The peculiarities of VAT administration in Ukraine and foreign countries are highlighted, the dynamics, tendencies of receipt and reimbursement of VAT in Ukraine are considered. The reasons for tax refund arrears are given and ways to improve VAT administration are proposed. Analysis of the assessment of VAT fiscal efficiency is carried out, the indicators of the assessment of this tax fiscal efficiency are determined. Despite the permanent increase in the absolute amount of this tax and its share in gross domestic product (hereinafter – GDP) and state budget revenues, the fiscal role of VAT is weakened due to such problems as regressive impact on low-income populations, tax evasion and minimization of tax liabilities, growth of volumes of VAT refunds at the expense of budgetary resource.