02442cas a2200241 a 4500 AALejournalIMF015167 230101c9999 xx r poo 0 0eng d 5.00 USD 9781484364789 1018-5941 BD-DhAAL BD-DhAAL Mansour, Mario. Tax Policy in MENA Countries : Looking Back and Forward / Mario Mansour. Washington, D.C. : International Monetary Fund, 2015. 1 online resource (51 pages) IMF Working Papers <strong>Off-Campus Access:</strong> No User ID or Password Required <strong>On-Campus Access:</strong> No User ID or Password Required Electronic access restricted to authorized BRAC University faculty, staff and students This paper reviews trends in taxation and revenue in MENA countries over 1990-2012, with a focus on non-resource taxes. On average, non-resource revenues declined slightly, while resource revenues soared. Country experiences vary: rates of main taxes and their revenues tend to be higher in the Magreb than in the Mashreq, except for the value-added tax, where lower rates are associated with equal or higher revenue; most oil producers raise little tax revenues-generally less than 5 percent of GDP-and most have reduced them since the late 1990s. But there are similarities: unlike common experience around the world, income taxes (not indirect taxes) have partially compensated for lost revenue from trade liberalization; revenues from indirect taxes have remained stable; personal income taxes have played an unimportant role as a revenue tool; and fees and stamp duties are significant revenue sources. Looking forward, tax reform challenges will also vary across countries: the Maghreb needs to focus on efficiency-enhancing reforms, especially in capital income and consumption taxes; the Mashreq have some room to increase revenue; and, there are ample opportunities to improve equity and reduce complexity of tax systems in all countries. Finally, the recent decline in oil prices and revenues is a reminder that even resource-rich GCC countries need to lay the basis of a tax system for the future. Mode of access: Internet IMF Working Papers; Working Paper ; No. 2015/098 Full text available on IMF http://elibrary.imf.org/view/journals/001/2015/098/001.2015.issue-098-en.xml IMF e-Library