Describe the various sources of public revenue and Kinds of Taxation
The modern
states have to perform multifarious duties for promoting the welfare of their
citizens. For the performance of these functions, money is needed. Every
government therefore tries to meet its annual expenditures from taxes and from
sources other than taxation. The revenue of the state can be classified under
the following heads.
1. Revenue from Private Income: A
government derives revenue from citizens by taxation and from other non-tax
resources such as fees, prices, special assessments, rates etc.
2. Irregular Revenue: Under this heading,
we include all items such as gifts, penalties, war indemnities etc.
3. Revenue from State Ownership: A
government also obtains incomes from the different assets which it owns. For
instance government receives money from state buildings, crown lands, and other
productive enterprises such as railways, postal service canals etc. We have
given classification of public revenue under above mentioned heads; let us make
clear distinction between all these various types of taxation.
Kinds of
Taxation:
1. Tax: A tax is
compulsory contribution to the public authority to cover the cost of services
rendered by state for the general benefit of its people.
2. Fee: A fee is
a payment made by the citizens of the country to state for obtaining a definite
service in return. Fee like taxes is not compulsory contribution. It is only
paid by those persons who enjoy the special benefit of the services rendered by
the state. The amount of the fee is generally less than the cost of rendering
service. For instance student’s tuition fee is not equal to the cost of service
rendered to him. Some part the total cost is covered by fees and some by taxes.
3. Price: Price
is like fees, it is also payment made by persons for obtaining a definite
service in return. The difference between a fee and a price is that public
purpose is more prominent in fee than price. Price is a voluntary payment with
a quid pro quo. When a government runs a business, it receives revenue. For
instance government sells timber from its mines, it also charges fare on state
buses or from railways. The total revenue which the government receives from
such services of business character is called price in economics.
4. Special
Assessment: Special assessment is a compulsory contribution made by the owner
of a property for some benefit conferred to his property by the public
authority. We can say that special assessment is a compulsory payment for
improvement. For instance a corporation provides water, electricity, drainage,
paves streets, lays out parks etc in a particular locality of the city. The
value of all the property situated in the locality will go up. The corporation
has every right to share a part of this unearned increment by taxing the owners
of the property who have benefited from the improvement. This tax which is
levied in respect of improvement made to the property by the public authority
is called special assessment. Special assessment is more or less in proportion
to the benefits enjoyed by the owners of the immoveable property.
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