Friday, January 31, 2020

The Effect Of Corruption On Taxtation System Essay Example for Free

The Effect Of Corruption On Taxtation System Essay Introduction: The Federal government to collect taxes on income other than agriculture income, taxes on capital value, custom, excise duties and sale taxes. In the modern age, corruption is found in almost all the countries of the world. It has been found in all the ages, like an incurable diseases. It has a great crime against the member of the society. Corruption in the tax administration is a two way process. For each corrupt employee, there is a corrupt private sector person who is corrupt either willingly or under duress. Findings in 2001 suggest that a large majority of the private sector justifies non-payment of the taxes because of the simple non-performance of the government in its duties. Many respondents to the survey mentioned other countries where the state ensures provision of inadequate quality infrastructure as health, education, social security, roads and above all security of life and property. Corruption cannot be viewed in isolaton, as it is a part of the broader issue of governance and public management. The quality of a country s’ governance is a critical factor for its development process. It is thus surprising how very small attention is given to one of the most fundamental way that public revenue are raised. Developing countries are typically unable to generate sufficient amount of revenue from taxation because these countries face a number of institutional problems in the process of revenue generation. One of the main problems is corruption in tax administration and tax system reforms (Brondolo,et al.(2008). The quality of governance as a whole is also relevant in this context. It is agreed that the presence of tax system and corruption of public officials is a social phenomena that can significantly reduce tax revenue and seriously hurt economics growth and development. We feel that overlooking them will make any corruption reduction in the tax administration. Hence, even if we cannot change anything in this area, it is our duty to take the decision makers about the very important rule that the play in encouraging and sustaining corruption in the tax administration. Various studies try to investigate the determinants of tax revenue [e.g.,Teera(2003);weiss (1969);Tanzi and zee (2000) and imam and jacobs (2007) .Imam and Jacobs (2007) explain that real per capita income, share of agriculture in GDP, trade openness, inflation and corruption are the most important determinants of tax collection. Gupta (2007) finds that several structural factors like per capita GDP share of agriculture in GDP trade openness foreign aid, foreign debt and some new institutional variable like corruption and political stability are statistically and strong determinants of revenue performance. Pakistan’s Taxation System Federal taxes in Pakistan like most of the taxation systems in the world are classified into two broad categories, viz., direct and indirect taxes. A broad description regarding the nature of administration of these taxes is explained below: Direct Taxes Direct taxes primarily comprise income tax, along with supplementary role of wealth tax. For the purpose of the charge of tax and the total income, all income is classified under the following heads: †¢ Salaries †¢ Interest on securities; †¢ Income from property; †¢ Income from business or professions †¢ Capital gains; and income from other sources. Personal Tax All individuals, unregistered firms, associations of persons, etc., are liable to tax, at the rates rending from 10 to 35 per cent. Tax on Companies All public companies (other than banking companies) incorporated in Pakistan are assessed for tax at corporate rate of 39%. However, the effective rate is likely to differ on account of allowances and related to industry, location, exports, etc. Inter-Corporate Dividend Tax Tax on the dividends received by a public company from a Pakistan company is payable at the rate of 5% and at the rate of 15% in case dividends are received by a foreign company. Inter-corporate dividends declared or distributed by power generation companies is subject to reduced rate of tax i.e., 7.5%. Other companies are taxed at the rate of 20%. Dividends paid to all non-company shareholders by the companies are subject to with holding tax of 10% which is treated as a full and final discharge of tax liability in respect of this source of income. Treatment of Dividend Income: Dividend income received as below enjoys tax exemption, provided it does not exceed Rs. 10,000/-. Objective: The main objective of these is to increase the efficiency of tax administration, specifically by reducing corruption and taxation system. Literature review: Sandamo (2004) defines the concept of systemm in the following words.†Tax system is a violation of the law: when the taxpayer from reporting income from labour or capital which is in principal taxable, he engages in an illegal activity that makes him liable to administrative or legal action from the authorities.† Various studies explain that collection of tax revenue is one of the important areas where corruption is most likely to arise [Galtung (1995); Li (1997); Toye and Moore (1998); Tanzi (2000); and Tungodden (2003). Fjeldstad (2005) examines the experience of the Uganda Revenue authority (URA) in controlling fiscal corruption. The study concludes that several factors have contributed to the unsatisfactory results of the URA. The study also explains that pay level of employees in URA is one of the several factors affecting the behavior of tax officers. Fjeldstad and Bertil (2001) explain that this paradox does not justify policies to stimulate corruption. It analyses that in the short corruption may raise tax revenue but in the long run the opposite will be the case. with high Tanzi and Dvoodi (1997) have provided evidence that countries level of corruption tend to have lower collection of tax revenues in relation to GDP. The implication is that some of the taxes paid by taxpayers are diverted away from public accounts. Tanzi(1999) argues that a distinction needs to be made between taxes collected by the tax administrators and taxes received by the treasury. Sanyal, et al. (1998) investigates the relationship between corruption, tax system and laffer curve. The study explain that a corrupt tax administration leads to laffer curve behavior (a higher tax rate leads to a smaller net revenue). The study explain that â€Å"net revenue earned from a truth revealing audit probability always exceeds net revenue through audits, taxes, and penalties in the cheating region†. Hadi (2006) has taken an effort to see the relationship between corruption and tax evasion. This study analysis that how bribery affects tax evasion. It also explains how tax-payers would be tending to pay bribes to maximize their expected income. The study used three different groups of people, individual taxpayers, tax collectors, and inspectors. The results shows that size of bribe negatively affect the tax evasion. Chand and Karl (1999) examined the issue to control fiscal corruption by providing incentives to fiscal officers. A model is developed to expose the incentives effect. This study explains the importance of organizational setup and conditions of service of fiscal officers. The study concludes that corruption has to be done due to low wages and other social circumstances. Phillps and sandal (2008) explains the relationship between governance and tax reforms. The study explains that three key dynamics reflects the relationship between governance, taxation and investment climate. Firstly good tax system positively depends on good governance. Secondly a fair domestic taxation system promotes good governance because benefit tax system allows population to pay fairly. Aizenman and yothin (2005) explains that collection efficiency is determined by the penalty on underpaying and probability of audit. Their main purpose is to prove the dependence of VAT collections efficiency on some key structural and political economy factor, The study shows that collection efficiency of the value added is affected by economic structure that increase the cost of enforcement. The collection efficiency reduces with less urbanization, less trade openness and higher share of agriculture. Conclusions: *The study concludes that governance and corruption are two main determinant of tax revenue. *Corruption has adverse effect on tax collection, while good governance contributes to better performance in tax collection. * The study concludes that corruption has negative effect on tax revenues. * In developing countries tax revenue collection depends on efficiency of government. Thus the accountability , political stability , government effectiveness, regulatory quality , rule of law and control of corruption and are important factors in determining tax revenues in developing countries. * An improved tax to GDP ratio can be achieved by using a combination of good governance, improved tax administration, good macroeconomics policies and other discretionary tax measures. Policy implications: *As confidance building measure to address tax payers concern. Government must demonstrate genuine authority at the top level, arrange public of tax return of ruling elite, some percentage of taxes revenues for specific social sectors, and create a demonstrable linkage between revenue generation and development expenditure of an area. *Separate tax assessment and adjudication. *Maximum authority to tax administration. *Policy implications for governments internationally when consideration is given to the issue of effective administrations. Efforts need to be made by governments to make improvements to the governance ( voice and accountability, political stability , government effectiveness, regulatory quality , rule of law and control of corruption) as a starting point. *Fiscal corruption in the tax administration is reduced by required laws, which are enforced by independent and efficient judicial system. *Democratic political institutions are in place, taxpayers are allowed to freely express their opinion about the tax system, so tax administrations should become more transparent and publicaly accountable, hence fiscal corruption is more easily exposed. *Developing countries need actively to strive to reduce the opportunities of corruption in tax administration and change in incentive structure for tax officials. *International donors like IMF may benefit in achieving its objectives if its adopt eradication of corruption as the prime component of conditionalities’.which are almost always attatched to their programmes of soft loans. *Business process reengineering should minimum tax payers/tax collectors interaction , simplified system and rules , reduced discretionary power s, Strengthened monitoring ad accountability, and increase transparency. References: Acconcia, A.,M.D’Amato, and R.Martina (2003) Tax Evasion and Corruptionn in Tax Administration Journal of public Economics. Aizenman, J. and Y.Jinjarak (2005) The Collection Efficiency of the value Added Tax: Theory and international Evidence. Alm J.,R.W. Bahl and M.N. Murrey (1991) Tax Base Erosion in Developing Countries . Bird, Richard (2004) societal institiutions and Tax Effort in Developing Countries. Gupta, S.A (2007) Determinants of Tax Revenue Effort in Developing Countries . Phillips, M. and R.Sandall (2008) Linking Business Tax Reforms with Goverance. Tanzi, V. and H.Zee (2001) Tax policy for Developing Countries. Tanzi, Vito (2000) Taxtation in the last Decade.Centre for Research on Economics Development and Policy Reforms. Tanzi, V. And H.Zee (2000) Tax policy for Emerging Markets: Developing Countries. Washington , DC: International Monetatry Fund.

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Frankenstein :: essays papers

Frankenstein Mary Shelleyîâ€" ¸ Frankenstein is filled with various underlying themes, the crux being the effect society has on The Creatureîâ€" ¸ personality. In fact, the ethical debate concerning biotechnological exploration into genetic cloning has created a monster in itself. A multitude of ethical questions arises when considering the ramifications of creating a genetically engineered human being. Does man or science have the right to create life through unnatural means? Should morality dictate these technological advancements and their effects on society? The questions and concerns are infinite, but so to are the curiosities, which continue to perpetuate the advancement of biotechnological science. In literature, Mary Shelleyîâ€" ¸ Frankenstein serves as bio-ethical exhortation for today îâ€" ¸ technological advances in genetic cloning. Mary Shelleyîâ€" ¸ Frankenstein provides a clear distinction between the theoretical grandeur of manîâ€" ¸ ability to scientifically author life and the stark reality, which it encompasses. Shelley prophetically illustrates some of the potential hazards of breaking through the barrier that separates man from God. Her insight allows the reader to trace these reputations through Victor Frankenstein, the monster, and eventually society. The character of Victor Frankenstein illustrates the path of destruction scientists can create when ignoring their moral community. Victor was so impassioned with his life îâ€" ¸ work that he has lost all soul or sensation but for this one pursuit. Frankensteinîâ€" ¸ blinding ambition prevented him from seeing the potential consequences of his actions until it was too late. The first sign of Victorîâ€" ¸ fatal flaw of egotism is that he forgets his bond to nature and to the people he loves. î˜ £ new species would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would own their being to me.? (933). His absence of moral judgement is the catalyst for what becomes the demise of the creature, society and ironically himself. It would be years before Victor fully realized that his neglect of moral obligation to the creature and society had unleashed a hideous monster that would eventually destroy his society as revenge for the monsterîâ€" ¸ sense of abandonment. î˜ « shuddered to think that future ages might curse me as their pest, whose selfishness had not hesitated to buy its own peace at the price, perhaps, of the existence of the whole human race.? Frankenstein led by the desire to widen human knowledge finds that fulfillment of his lofty ambition has brought only a curse to mankind.

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Argo review

Argo is a name of a movie which got Oscar for best movie in 2012. It has been done in Warner Bros production, with Ben Affleck as a director and George Clooney as a producer. It's a thriller (120min) full of surprises and unexpected events, so I would rate it 10/10 for the story. This thriller is about hostage extraction from Teheran in 1979 and it's based on a true story about a fake movie. During the Iranian diplomatic crisis, the CIA rescued six US diplomats by passing them off as members of aCanadian film crew who were scouting locations for a nonexistent sci-fi film. It tells the true story of some imaginative derring-do on the part of a brilliant and unorthodox CIA agent called Tony Mendez. As I already said I gave this movie 10/10 for the story, but the story is not completely true in some way. If you read the interview with the former US president Jimmy Carter, who was president at the time the crisis happened, you can see that not all is shown as it was.Carter openly admits hat 95% of the contributions to the ideas and the consummation of the plan was Canadian, but the movie gives almost all credits to CIA. Considering the acting, Argo is even bellow average in some cases because some actors in my opinion are Just too bad. If we take in consideration that Ben Affleck is a director and it is a Warner Bros production, I think that they should have found better actors. Except couple of main characters, acting is nothing special and I would not give more than 5/10 for it.You will not regret watching this movie, but you should try to find out more information about this incident before watching it, because it will help you to get better picture about situations in Iran. In my opinion the movie is not even close to Oscar, but it got it, probably because of the strong patriotism among US citizens and this story is exactly about that. All in all, this movie is a nice way to spend Saturday afternoon, but it definitely did not deserve an Oscar.

Monday, January 6, 2020

University of Utah Acceptance Rate, SAT/ACT Scores, GPA

The University of Utah is public research university with an acceptance rate of 67%. Located in Salt Lake City, the University of Utah, which offers over 100 undergraduate majors, is the flagship university in the state. For its strength in the liberal arts and sciences, the University of Utah was awarded a chapter of  Phi Beta Kappa. On the athletic front, the Utah Utes compete in the NCAA Division I  Pac 12 Conference. Considering applying to University of Utah? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students. Acceptance Rate During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, University of Utah had an acceptance rate of 67%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 67 students were admitted, making U of Us admissions process somewhat competitive. Admissions Statistics Number of Applicants 23,096 Percent Admitted 67% Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) 28% SAT Scores and Requirements The University of Utah requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 25% of admitted students submitted SAT scores. SAT Range (Admitted Students) Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile ERW 570 670 Math 560 680 ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing This admissions data tells us that most of U of Us admitted students fall within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to University of Utah scored between 570 and 670, while 25% scored below 570 and 25% scored above 670. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 560 and 680, while 25% scored below 560 and 25% scored above 680. Applicants with a composite SAT score of 1350 or higher will be particularly competitive for University of Utah. Requirements University of Utah does not require the SAT writing section or SAT Subject tests. Note that U of U does not superscore SAT results; your highest composite SAT score will be considered. ACT Scores and Requirements The University of Utah requires that all applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 83% of admitted students submitted ACT scores. ACT Range (Admitted Students) Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile English 22 30 Math 22 28 Composite 22 29 This admissions data tells us that most of University of Utahs admitted students fall within the top 37% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to U of U received a composite ACT score between 22 and 29, while 25% scored above 29 and 25% scored below 22. Requirements Note that University of Utah does not superscore ACT results; your highest composite ACT score will be considered. U of U does not require the ACT writing section. GPA In 2018, the middle 50% of University of Utahs incoming class had high school GPAs between 3.42 to 3.92. 25% had a GPA above 3.92, and 25% had a GPA below 3.42. These results suggest that most successful applicants to the University of Utah have primarily A and B grades. Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph University of Utah Applicants Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph. Data courtesy of Cappex. The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to University of Utah. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in  with a free Cappex account. Admissions Chances The University of Utah, which accepts over two-thirds of applicants, has a somewhat selective admissions process. If your test scores and GPA fall within the schools average ranges, you have a strong chance of being accepted. However, U of U also has a holistic admissions process which considers the  rigor of your high school courses, grade trends, and academic awards. University of Utah also consider your level of commitment to  extracurricular activities including volunteer work, athletics, family responsibilities, and work experience. University of Utah does not require personal statements or letters of recommendation. In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. The majority of successful applicants had B or higher grade point averages, SAT scores of about 1000 or higher, and ACT composite scores of 20 or above. Many admitted students have grades in the A range. If You Like the University of Utah, You May Also Like These Schools Brigham Young University - ProvoUniversity of ArizonaBoise State UniversityUniversity of OregonArizona State UniversityOregon State UniversityColorado State University All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and University of Utah Undergraduate Admissions Office.