Lottery Winnings-To Tax or Not to Tax?
Date Issued
2008
Date
2008
Author(s)
Yu, Ai-Hsin
Abstract
Lottery fever has gripped various countries worldwide. Despite the global presence of lottery games, little research is conducted on any international aspect of lotteries. Moreover, there is a lack of systematic data available on the legal rules pertaining to lottery taxation around the world. This study presents the first-ever examination and comparison of the taxation on lottery winnings from around the world by establishing how taxation laws in different countries correlate with their economic performances. This study, which uses a Logit model to undertake an analysis of the data pertaining taxation levied on lottery winnings in 46 countries, empirically demonstrates that civil-law countries and countries with a higher public debt as a percentage of GDP have a higher probability to levy tax on lottery winnings. The results also reveal that countries with a higher GDP per capita on a purchasing power parity basis have a higher probability of giving away a tax-free lottery prize payment. Taiwan has a higher GDP per capita, US$29,800, than the mean figure of US$25,768; and the public debt as a percentage of GDP in Taiwan is 31.1%, lower than the average of 43%, both of which imply that Taiwan should have a higher probability of not levying tax on lottery winnings. However, lottery winnings worth over NT$2,000 are subject to a 20% withholding tax in Taiwan. The relatively low overall tax burden rate in Taiwan might be able to explain this phenomenon. As Congdon (2005) stated that tax burdens of 40, 50 or 60 percent of GDP are recognized as the main cause of sluggish economies, radical proposals for reducing the burden of taxation are looked upon more favorably. Taiwan, with a 13.7% overall tax burden rate, will not encounter this problem. Therefore, it seems reasonable for Taiwan to tax lottery winnings. Moreover, Taiwan has a civil-law based legal origin, which was examined to have a higher probability to levy tax on lottery winnings. Taking into account all the independent variables, it seems reasonable for Taiwan to tax lottery winnings.
Subjects
Lottery winnings
Tax policy
Logit model
Public debt as a percentage of GDP
Overall tax burden rate
GDP per capita
Legal origin
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