Technical Notes and Manuals
Technical Notes and Manuals are produced by IMF departments to expand the dissemination of their technical assistance advice. These papers present general advice and guidance, drawn in part from unpublished technical assistance reports, to a broader audience. This new series launched in September 2009.
2010
November 24, 2010
Revenue Administration: Developing a Taxpayer Compliance Program
Description: This technical note describes the importance of a taxpayer compliance program. Improving tax compliance requires long-term reform efforts, beginning with strengthening the organization and management of the revenue agency, implementing robust collection systems, and building capacity in core tax administration functions. Reform of the legal framework and judiciary is also often required to ensure that the necessary powers, penalty regimes, and dispute resolution processes are in place. This note explains how countries can improve tax compliance. Steps in developing a taxpayer compliance program are also elaborated.
September 20, 2010
Evaluating Government Employment and Compensation
Description: This technical note provides criteria for evaluating government employment and compensation and options for reform. The note discusses various quantitative indicators that can be used for country analysis and provides an assessment of differences across regions and country groups. It addresses short- and medium-term options for reform and country experiences. Data tables, which can be useful for comparative analysis, are provided. The note underscores that technical analysis of employment and compensation issues must be accompanied by judgment to weigh the tradeoffs between competing objectives.
September 20, 2010
Health Care Spending Issues in Advanced Economies
Description: This technical note analyzes the health care spending issues in advanced economies. Both public and total health spending have increased substantially in advanced countries. Total health spending increased by more than 6 percentage points of GDP in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries between 1970 and 2007. This note examines the recent trends in health care spending in advanced countries. It discusses the main challenges for advanced countries over the medium term. Policy options for containing health care costs are also described.
August 9, 2010
Government Cash Management: Its Interaction with Other Financial Policies
Description: This technical note describes the interaction of government cash management with other financial policies. The note offers guidance on policy, institutional, and practical issues for governments looking to develop a more sophisticated cash management function, specifically to move toward more active cash management. This involves financial market intervention by the government cash manager, with the aim of smoothing the projected short-term profile of the government’s net cash balances. The note is particularly relevant to emerging market countries where there are already functioning, if not necessarily well-developed, domestic money and bond markets.
July 29, 2010
Revenue Administration: Performance Measurement in Tax Administration
Description: This technical note describes measuring performance in tax administration. Performance measurement is an ongoing process of ascertaining how well, or how poorly, an organization is achieving its goals and objectives. It involves the continuous collection of data on progress made in this regard. Performance indicators, or measures, are developed as standards for assessing the extent to which these objectives are achieved. This note explains key features of performance management and performance measurement. It outlines how tax administrations can apply performance management at the strategic level. Key tasks in implementing a performance management system are also described.
July 29, 2010
Revenue Administration: Managing the Shadow Economy
Description: This technical note focuses on the concept of a shadow economy and explains its main characteristics. Although a shadow economy is acknowledged by all G-20 countries as a major and enduring revenue risk, by its nature the size of a shadow economy is difficult to measure. Sweden, however, estimates that at least half of its total tax gap is attributable to a shadow economy. This note explains what action should revenue agencies take to manage a shadow economy. The most recent initiatives to manage a shadow economy are also described.
June 18, 2010
Revenue Administration: Autonomy in Tax Administration and the Revenue Authority Model
Description: This technical note focuses on the concept of autonomy and describes why it is important in public administration. There has been a tendency for governments to increase the autonomy of their departments and agencies. The basic principle is that such autonomy can lead to better performance by removing impediments to effective and efficient management while maintaining appropriate accountability and transparency. This note explains how autonomy is relevant for revenue administration and what is the range of autonomy currently practiced. The paper also describes key measures of autonomy in revenue administration.
June 11, 2010
Extrabudgetary Funds
Description: This technical note1 addresses the following main questions: 1. What are the definition, classification, and typology of extrabudgetary funds (EBFs)? 2. Why do EBFs exist? 3. What are the problems created by EBFs? 4. What are the criteria for evaluating and reforming EBFs? and 5. What are the implications for analysis of fiscal policies and for public financial management (PFM)?
Notes: Full text also available in Spanish.
June 11, 2010
Revenue Administration: Functionally Organized Tax Administration
Description: This technical note analyzes the functionally organized tax administration. The organization structure of tax organizations has evolved considerably over time. From organization structures based on type of tax, to those based on function, to those based on the type of taxpayer, economies of different sizes and at different stages of development have attempted different kinds of organizational reform. This note explains why the choice of an organizational model is so important. The paper also describes key components of a function-based organization.
May 20, 2010
Revenue Administration: A Toolkit for Implementing a Revenue Authority
Description: This technical note presents a toolkit for implementing a revenue authority. This toolkit is a guide with a series of operational modules designed to assist countries when they implement a “revenue authority” to administer their tax and customs operations. It provides a definition of Revenue Authority (RA), a brief history of the concept, terminology, identification of key research documents, and a discussion on increasing autonomy in public institutions. It also presents a review of why countries choose the RA model for their revenue administration.