Limiting the distortionary effects of transaction taxes: Scottish stamp duty after the Mirrlees Review. (7th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Borbely, Daniel
• Is Part Of: Fiscal studies. Volume 42:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 265
• Page End: 290
• Publication Date: 2021-06-07
• Subjects: behavioural responses to taxation -- notches and kinks in tax systems -- property markets -- transaction taxes; Finance, Public -- Periodicals; Fiscal policy -- Periodicals; Economic policy -- Periodicals; Finance, Public -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 336.3
• DOI: 10.1111/1475-5890.12270
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-5671

Abstract

Abstract: We investigate the distortionary effects of transaction taxes through a case study of the Scottish residential property market. We make use of four sources of variation in transaction tax rates present in recent Scottish tax systems: (1) jumps in tax liabilities at tax thresholds; (2) jumps in marginal tax rates at thresholds; (3) a tax announcement that created temporary tax saving opportunities; and (4) a shift to a more progressive transaction tax regime. Our results indicate that market participants are highly responsive to tax changes and are willing to change the price and timing of transactions when tax savings opportunities are present. We also find that progressive reform had a significant positive effect on transaction activity in the market segment where tax rates were reduced. However, the higher end of the market, where tax rates increased, was mostly unaffected by progressive reform, with the exception of the market for very expensive properties, where a negative effect is identified. Implications of our findings are that if governments want to make transaction tax regimes more efficient, progressive taxation might be a good way to limit distortionary effects, whilst also encouraging transaction activity in the lower end of the market.