Number: RL30351
Title: CONSUMPTION TAXES AND THE LEVEL AND COMPOSITION OF SAVING
Authors: Steven Maguire, Government and Finance Division 
Abstract: The purpose of this report is to describe the potential effects on saving of moving from the current hybrid income-consumption tax structure to a primarily consumption based tax. The current tax treatment of selected saving instruments is described, as well as the potential affect of a consumption tax on their attractiveness to the saver. Many believe that implementing a consumption based tax will encourage more saving. However, saving incentives under the present income tax already encourage long term saving, thus the report suggests that moving to a consumption tax might not produce the anticipated increases in saving.
Pages: 19
Date: Updated January 11, 2001