Wednesday, January 21, 2009

The Flat Tax at Work in Albania: Year One

Beginning January 1, 2008, Albania implemented a 10% flat tax on corporate and personal income. The 10% personal rate replaced five rates that peaked at 30% while the 10% corporate rate was halved from the previous 20% rate. Despite the reduction in rates, total revenues increased from LEK 125 billion in 2007 to LEK 148 billion in 2008, an increase of 18.4%. ($1.00 = LEK 96.71). With inflation a modest 3% in 2008, real inflated-adjusted revenue rose 15.2%.

One other development in the flat tax world is worth noting. On January 1, 2009, Latvia’s personal income tax rate fell from 25% to 23%.