Wealth-related taxes in low- and middle-income countries

On Friday 17 May 2024, TaxDev researcher Laura Abramovsky delivered a presentation on 'Wealth-related taxes in low- and middle-income countries' at an online meeting of officials from the Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

In low- and middle-income countries, addressing high levels of income and wealth inequality while collecting revenue more equitably is a top policy priority for national governments and international initiatives. This inequity is exacerbated by loopholes, policy flaws, and limited global cooperation, allowing the wealthy to hide income and wealth. As calls grow for wealth taxes and global reforms, including a minimum tax on the super-rich, this presentation examines wealth taxation within broader national tax systems, including capital income and inheritance taxes, to address these challenges.