Thursday, April 10, 2014

ASEAN Tax Reform Initiative

Last October 22, 2013, I and some Asian friends in the free market network met with our friends at the Americans for Tax Reforms (ATR), after EFN Asia 2014 Conference ended in Bangkok. The meeting was held in another hotel not far from the venue of the EFN Conference.

From left, standing: Lorenzo Montanari of ATR, guy from Vietnam, me, Feng Xingyuan of Unirule Institute (China), Wan Saiful Wan Jan and Tricia Yeoh of IDEAS (Malaysia), Barun Mitra of Liberty Institute (India).

Sitting from left: Roman Dannug of DLSU (Philippines), Peter Wong of Lion Rock Institute (HK), Mao Shoulong of Renmin Univ. (China), Chris Butler of ATR. I forget the names of the other three on the right, sorry. Photo from IDEAS.


It was an exploratory meeting how we can possibly put up a regional think tank focused on tax issues -- campaign to have low, simple taxes among countries in the ASEAN region and other Asian economies.

Good initiative, but we have not done any serious project yet after that meeting. When the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) will materialize by January 2016, lots of "harmonization" of policies will happen among the 10 member-countries of the association. This project then should have some bones and skin then after this exploratory meeting.

Meanwhile, I got this poem last October from the Bastiat Institute facebook page. Cool, reposting it.
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Tax his land, Tax his bed,
Tax the table, At which he's fed.

Tax his tractor, Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes, Are the rule.

Tax his work, Tax his pay,
He works for peanuts anyway!

Tax his cow, Tax his goat,
Tax his pants, Tax his coat.

Tax his ties, Tax his shirt,
Tax his work, Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco, Tax his drink,
Tax him if he Tries to think.

Tax his cigars, Tax his beers,
If he cries Tax his tears.

Tax his car, Tax his gas,
Find other ways To tax his ass.

Tax all he has Then let him know
That you won't be done Till he has no dough.

When he screams and hollers; Then tax him some more,
Tax him till He's good and sore.

Then tax his coffin, Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in Which he's laid...

Put these words Upon his tomb,
'Taxes drove me to my doom...'

When he's gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Sales Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
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See also:
Abolish Income Tax 6: Income tax and VAT trade-off, February 08, 2010
Abolish Income Tax 7: Rene Azurin, Peter Wallace, John Mangun, August 19, 2011 

Abolish Income Tax 8. From low flat tax to zero income tax, September 30, 2011 

Abolish Income Tax 9: Tax Revolt Against Government Corruption, September 29, 2013

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