Tax revenue in the European Union - Issue number 2/2012 - Products Statistics in Focus

In 2010 tax revenues stabilised as a proportion of GDP, after a three-year decline

Tax revenues (including social contributions) accounted for over 91 % of total general government revenue in the European Union. Tax revenue made up 39.6 % of GDP in 2010 in the European Union (EU-27) and 40.2 % of GDP in the euro area (EA-17). Taxes on production and imports accounted for 33.3 % and current taxes on income, wealth, etc. 31.2 % of total tax revenue. The share of current taxes on income, wealth, etc. has decreased from 2007 onwards with no recovery in 2010. The share of social contributions increased noticeably from 2008 to 2009 but decreased slightly from 2009 to 2010 to stand at 35.1 % of total tax revenue.