Tax tools for smoothing the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic: foreign experience

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a serious challenge for the entire world community. National governments were forced to introduce restrictive measures to prevent the spread of a new coronavirus infection. However, the self-isolation regime announced in many countries is one of the main factors of the recession into which the world economy has plunged. As a confirmation, the article presents the results of a study conducted by the International Monetary Fund. In connection with these events, anti-crisis programs were developed in many countries of the world, which provided for several packages of financial support measures for the population and businesses. One of the basic tools for implementing the approved economic recovery programs were tax measures, which are the subject of this study.   A review of the world practice of using tax instruments allowed us to distinguish two groups. The first group includes tax measures adapted to the new socio-economic realities, which, despite the reduction of the tax burden, are not tax expenditures. The second group includes tax expenses. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that, based on the results of studying international experience, a classification of tax expenditures used to offset the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic was developed. The purpose of the provision is selected as a classification feature. The conducted research allowed us to conclude that the most popular tax expenditures were such tax expenditures as the reduction (exemption) of indirect taxes on medical products and products of firms affected by the introduction of restrictive measures. In addition, tax expenditures in the form of tax deductions and credits for taxes on individual and corporate income have become widespread, encouraging taxpayers to direct savings to finance investments and activities of small and medium-sized businesses, special funds to combat COVID-19.