Trends in Personal Income Tax Progression in OECD Countries in the Context of Income Redistribution

Abstract

In recent years there has been an evident, widespread increase in income disparities in OECD countries. Progressive Personal Income Tax, which enables adjustment of the tax burden to individual’s capacity to pay, is one of the fundamental instruments used in redistribution policy. The aim of the paper is comparative analysis of the level of Personal Income Tax (PIT) progression in OECD countries and identification of trends in progression in the context of income redistribution. The article discusses the progressivity level of PIT in OECD countries measured by the differences in the burden at different levels of income. The cross-country and historical trends in the statutory PIT rates, the number of tax brackets and the provisions which exempt an initial level of income from tax burden are analysed and graphically illustrated.

Keywords

• Personal Income Tax
• progression
• redistribution
• tax policy