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Are Americans taxed more lightly than residents of most rich countries?

Wednesday, December 23, 2020
By Lisa Freedland
YES

Total tax revenue at all levels of government in the U.S. was 24.5% of national economic output in 2019, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The average across all OECD members was 33.8%. Two other countries in what the World Bank considers the high-income bracket (which excludes some OECD members) exacted less in taxes: Chile (20.7%) and Ireland (22.7%). The highest levels applied in France (45.4%), Denmark (46.3%) and some other European states.

The U.S. tax take has dropped from 28.3% in 2000. The average rate across OECD countries rose slightly during the period from 33.3%.

Based on OECD data for 2018, the U.S. government budget deficit, at 6.6% of output, was the largest across the group, with Mexico coming next at 5.1%.

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