Eurostat published its figures on the taxation trends in the EU which shows the that average standard VAT rate in the EU has risen strongly since 2008. Furthermore, in 2012, the average top personal income tax rate and the corporate tax rates have also increased in the EU.

Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, published its report entitled “Taxation trends in the European Union figures” which shows that the average standard VAT rate in the EU has risen strongly since 2008. In 2012, the standard VAT rate varies from 15.0% in Luxembourg and 17.0% in Cyprus to 27.0% in Hungary and 25.0% in Denmark and Sweden. Recently, the Council underlined the importance of ensuring a simpler VAT system. Corporate tax rates in the EU have risen slightly in 2012, ending a long declining trend. The highest statutory tax rates on 2012 corporate income are recorded in France (36.1%), Malta (35.0%) and Belgium (34.0%), and the lowest in Bulgaria and Cyprus (both 10.0%) and Ireland (12.5%). 

With regard to the average top personal income tax rate, this one has increased in 2012 in the EU. The highest top rates on 2012 personal income are observed in Sweden (56.6%), Denmark (55.4%), Belgium (53.7%), the Netherlands and Spain (both 52.0%), Austria and the United Kingdom (both 50.0%), and the lowest in Bulgaria (10.0%), the Czech Republic and Lithuania (both 15.0%), Romania (16.0%) and Slovakia (19.0%).

In addition, this year's edition of the report for the first time includes an overview of property tax revenue in general with a special focus on recurrent taxes on immovable properties for the entire EU. Amongst the Member States, revenue from property taxes varied widely in 2010, ranging from 0.4% of GDP in the Czech Republic, Estonia and Slovakia to 4.2% in the United Kingdom, 3.4% in France and 3.1% in Belgium. The highest revenues from recurrent taxes as a proportion of GDP were recorded in the United Kingdom (3.4%), France (2.3%) and Denmark (1.4%), and from transaction taxes in Belgium (1.8%), Italy (1.3%) and Spain (1.2%).