Efficiency of a single-rate and broad-based VAT system: the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The aim of this paper is to analyze the performance and efficiency of the VAT system in B&H and explore the effects of internal and external factors influencing VAT collection. The VAT system in B&H is a consumption-type, single-rate and broad-based system. Ever since its implementation, VAT collection in B&H has been subject to strong oscillations, from an extremely high performance in the first two years after the introduction, to a sharp drop at the beginning of the crisis. After a temporary recovery, VAT collection declined in the last quarter of 2012 and has been negative ever since, although a weak recovery of the B&H economy was observed in 2013. The key hypothesis is that the high efficiency of the broadbased and single-rate structured VAT system may be neutralized by the country’s specific circumstances and VAT policy design. Applying a set of indicators for VAT efficiency analysis, developed by IMF, OECD and EU, we find a deterioration of the components of the policy gap caused by derogations of the VAT Law, and an increasing compliance gap, due to an increase of the VAT debt and tax evasion, in consequence of poor policy design in the field of excises. As a result of the influence of the country’s specific circumstances and its VAT policy design the identifiable current net losses on VAT in 2013 amount to 4% of net VAT collection or 0.4% of GDP. The analysis presented in the paper proves the main hypothesis that a VAT design, even when it is close to theoretically ideal concept, cannot on its own produce a high level of VAT efficiency and performance.