Comment on: “Evaluatie van de hervorming van de schenkingsrechten op roerende goederen in het Vlaams Gewest” by Dr. C. Smolders Marcel Gérard FUCaM, Ucl and CESifo 1M. GERARD

The Measure Introduced by the Flemish government it consists in – Decreasing the tax rates on gifts of movables to 3 per cent if to children, parents, grandparents spouses and partners – Decreasing that rate to 7 per cent on gifts to all other beneficiaries Studied by Carine Smolders and her team in Ghent 2M. GERARD

Apparently an effective measure since Gifts at 3%-rate: – Tax income increases with 74% ( ) – Number of files increases with 135% ( ) Gifts at 7%-rate: – Tax income increases with 32% ( ) – Number of files increases with 84% ( ) M. GERARD

A three item research question 1.Did the reform result in an increase in the number of gifts, did it change the timing of gifts, did it change the average amount given? 2. Are there significant differences concerning the profile of donors and beneficiaries before and after the reform? 3. What do tax payers know about the reform? Are they for or against the reform? Did the reform change their attitude? M. GERARD

The investigation Four research exercises – Interviews of experts – Logit analysis of face –to-face interviews with 247 donors or potential donors – Logit and OLS analysis on data from an on-line survey conducted on 1050 potential beneficiaries – Logit and OLS analysis on data collected in 9 register office Let us leave methodological issues aside M. GERARD

The results (experts) Clients sooner aware of the benefits of inter vivos gifts Shift in the type of gift: more registered gifts, less other types of gifts (hansels) Significantly more gifts of movables More transfers accompanied by conditions Wealthy clients are well informed about the reform<>others! M. GERARD

The results (potential / actual donors) -The probability to give is significantly larger in case of women, age 70+, monthly family income >5000 €, 1 or 2 children age jaar, consciously involved in estate planning, altruistic nature -The probability to give is independent of: education, job, tax resistance, knowledge concerning estate planning, health, civil status -The reform is strongly appreciated, but the communication to a much lesser extent -Knowledge of respondents concerning estate planning in general is disappointing M. GERARD

The results (beneficiaries) Knowledge concerning inheritance taxes and gift taxes = disappointing Knowledge concerning the reform: 67% never heard of it The reform is appreciated by a majority of the respondents M. GERARD

The results (deeds) -Larger gifts -Significantly more registered deeds -More conditions attached -Gifts of financial assets increased -Gifts to others increased -Gifts on later moments in life time M. GERARD

General conclusions 1.Concerning the reform: -Significant increase in tax revenues -Significant increase in the number of registered deeds -Significant increase in conditional deeds -Significant increase in the number of gifts to others -Significant increase of the amount given -Donors still rather old (average> 70) -Registration of gifts is postponed -Gifts increase savings and moderately stimulate investment in real estate M. GERARD

General conclusions 2. Considering the knowledge about inheritance tax -Knowledge in general is very disappointing, except for the wealthy group 3. Appreciation of the reform -Donors and beneficiaries are happy with the reform, but not with the official communication considering the reform -Gift taxes on gifts to partners are contested -A majority of the respondents prefers lower tax rates for the highest tax breaks of the inheritance tax M. GERARD

Elements for a discussion In the Musgravian tradition a tax reform is to be appraised in line with its effects – In terms of efficiency – In terms of equity – In terms of stabilization and incentiveness Let us consider the first two aspects only (efficiency and equity) and replace the third one by compliance M. GERARD

Elements for a discussion Statement: a good tax – Is efficient (less distortions, less externalities / spill over effects) – Is fair (between generations, within generations, between regions) – Is hard to evade M. GERARD

Elements for a discussion The tax rates have been decreased: is that an incentive for giving up non-compliance and tax evasion? Has that reform generated gifts at an earlier age in the life, thus an increased transfer from the old to the young generation, at least in discounted terms? Has that reform produced spill interregional over effects (Canadian case) M. GERARD

Is the reform efficient? Theoretical economic literature assumes that the government chooses a tax structure that maximizes people’s welfare, taking account of what makes people happy, how their behavior is likely to respond and the need to raise revenue to pay for public services. That suggests that intentional wealth transfers, which presumably benefit the donor as well as the recipient, should be taxed more heavily than accidental transfers, which may not. (…) Taxing accidental transfers does not distort people’s behavior in a costly way. (Boadway et al.) M. GERARD

Is the reform efficient? Externalities / spill over effects? – Do we observe migration of wealthy taxpayers to the Flemish region? – The Canadian story: Canadian provinces have abolished the inheritance tax since taxpayers migrated accordingly; Quebec was the last due to the language barrier. Might the language barrier be an obstacle to such migration in Belgium so that spill over is little likely to occur? M. GERARD

Is the reform fair? A better justification for taxing wealth when it is transferred is that this promotes equality of opportunity. On this view an individual should be compensated for disadvantages beyond his control, but not for disadvantages under his control. Therefore, a wealth transfer should be treated as a source of additional opportunity for the recipient that should be taxed, whether or not the donor has already paid income tax or capital gains tax on the assets concerned. (Boadway et al.) M. GERARD