In addition to tax rates, another factor of importance to companies is the amount of time and effort spent on tax compliance and reporting.
According to the latest PWC ranking, the product of a study ran in partnership with the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation, Qatar has the world’s simplest corporate tax regime while Bolivia has the most burdensome.
Paying Taxes 2016 is the annual edition of a study by PWC, the World Bank and the IFC comparing tax systems in 189 economies around the world. It aims to rate the word’s tax systems from the point of view of a standardized business, based on a set of indicators ranging from the total tax rate, to the time to comply to the number of payments. The study covers the full range of taxes paid by the company, not only the corporate income tax.
Qatar tops the list finally removing the United Arab Emirates from their hold in the rankings. Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Singapore have not budged from their place. Ireland came in at position number 6, the highest-ranked country in Europe. In North America, Canada had the simplest regime for corporate tax compliance—ranked 8 worldwide. The United States moves up in position to 53 and Mexico to 92.
Chile was first in Latin America—at number 33—while Belize came in at 69. Brazil drops to 178th. In Asia-Pacific, Australia was in the middle of the ranking at 42, and China was marked as having a relatively complex tax regime—coming in at 132.
The most difficult countries to manage tax payments—those countries that came at the bottom of the ranking— included Mauritania, Venezuela, and Bolivia
Ease Of Paying Taxes By Country
Country |
Rank |
Total tax rate
|
Time
|
Payments
|
---|---|---|---|---|
Qatar | 1 | 11.3 | 41 | 4 |
United Arab Emirates | 1 | 15.9 | 12 | 4 |
Saudi Arabia | 3 | 15 | 64 | 3 |
Hong Kong SAR, China | 4 | 22.8 | 74 | 3 |
Singapore | 5 | 18.4 | 83.5 | 6 |
Ireland | 6 | 25.9 | 82 | 9 |
Macedonia, FYR | 7 | 12.9 | 119 | 7 |
Bahrain | 8 | 13.5 | 60 | 13 |
Canada | 9 | 21.1 | 131 | 8 |
Oman | 10 | 22.9 | 68 | 14 |
Kuwait | 11 | 13 | 98 | 12 |
Denmark | 12 | 24.5 | 130 | 10 |
Mauritius | 13 | 22.4 | 152 | 8 |
Norway | 14 | 39.5 | 83 | 4 |
United Kingdom | 15 | 32 | 110 | 8 |
Brunei Darussalam | 16 | 8.7 | 89 | 18 |
Finland | 17 | 37.9 | 93 | 8 |
Kazakhstan | 18 | 29.2 | 188 | 7 |
Switzerland | 19 | 28.8 | 63 | 19 |
South Africa | 20 | 28.8 | 200 | 7 |
Luxembourg | 21 | 20.1 | 55 | 23 |
New Zealand | 22 | 34.3 | 152 | 8 |
Kiribati | 23 | 32.7 | 156 | 10 |
Bahamas, The | 24 | 33.7 | 58 | 19 |
Malta | 25 | 41.3 | 139 | 7 |
Netherlands | 26 | 41 | 123 | 9 |
Latvia | 27 | 35.9 | 193 | 7 |
Bhutan | 28 | 35.3 | 85 | 18 |
Korea, Rep. | 29 | 33.2 | 188 | 12 |
Estonia | 30 | 49.4 | 81 | 8 |
Malaysia | 31 | 40 | 118 | 13 |
San Marino | 32 | 40.5 | 52 | 19 |
Chile | 33 | 28.9 | 291 | 7 |
Azerbaijan | 34 | 39.8 | 195 | 7 |
Slovenia | 35 | 31 | 245 | 10 |
Iceland | 36 | 29.6 | 140 | 21 |
Sweden | 37 | 49.1 | 122 | 6 |
Croatia | 38 | 20 | 206 | 19 |
Taiwan | 39 | 34.5 | 221 | 11 |
Georgia | 40 | 16.4 | 362 | 5 |
Armenia | 41 | 19.9 | 313 | 10 |
Australia | 42 | 47.6 | 105 | 11 |
Seychelles | 43 | 30.1 | 85 | 29 |
Cyprus | 44 | 24.4 | 145.5 | 27 |
Lebanon | 45 | 30.3 | 183 | 20 |
Zambia | 46 | 18.6 | 157 | 26 |
Russian Federation | 47 | 47 | 168 | 7 |
Rwanda | 48 | 33 | 109 | 25 |
Lithuania | 49 | 42.6 | 171 | 11 |
Guatemala | 50 | 37.5 | 256 | 8 |
Peru | 50 | 35.9 | 260 | 9 |
Jordan | 52 | 29.5 | 151 | 25 |
United States | 53 | 43.9 | 175 | 10.6 |
Vanuatu | 54 | 8.5 | 120 | 31 |
Romania | 55 | 42 | 159 | 14 |
West Bank and Gaza | 56 | 15.3 | 162 | 28 |
Timor-Leste | 57 | 11.2 | 276 | 18 |
Poland | 58 | 40.3 | 271 | 7 |
Iraq | 59 | 27.8 | 312 | 14 |
Spain | 60 | 50 | 158 | 9 |
Turkey | 61 | 40.9 | 226 | 11 |
Morocco | 62 | 49.1 | 211 | 6 |
Belarus | 63 | 51.8 | 176 | 7 |
Montenegro | 64 | 21.6 | 314 | 17 |
Portugal | 65 | 41 | 275 | 8 |
Greece | 66 | 49.6 | 193 | 8 |
Kosovo | 67 | 15.2 | 155 | 32 |
Solomon Islands | 68 | 32 | 80 | 34 |
Belize | 69 | 31.1 | 147 | 29 |
Thailand | 70 | 27.5 | 264 | 22 |
Botswana | 71 | 25.1 | 152 | 34 |
Germany | 72 | 48.8 | 218 | 9 |
Slovak Republic | 73 | 51.2 | 188 | 10 |
Austria | 74 | 51.7 | 166 | 12 |
Suriname | 75 | 27.9 | 199 | 30 |
Madagascar | 76 | 38.1 | 183 | 23 |
Dominican Republic | 77 | 42.4 | 316 | 7 |
Moldova | 78 | 40.2 | 186 | 21 |
Swaziland | 79 | 34.7 | 110 | 33 |
Costa Rica | 80 | 58 | 151 | 9 |
Tunisia | 81 | 59.9 | 144 | 8 |
Tonga | 82 | 30.1 | 200 | 30 |
St. Lucia | 83 | 34.7 | 110 | 35 |
Myanmar | 84 | 31.4 | 188 | 31 |
Djibouti | 85 | 37.6 | 82 | 36 |
Bangladesh | 86 | 31.6 | 302 | 21 |
France | 87 | 62.7 | 137 | 8 |
Bulgaria | 88 | 27 | 423 | 14 |
Afghanistan | 89 | 36.3 | 275 | 20 |
Belgium | 90 | 58.4 | 161 | 11 |
Mongolia | 91 | 24.4 | 148 | 41 |
Mexico | 92 | 51.7 | 286 | 6 |
Namibia | 93 | 21.3 | 302 | 27 |
Cabo Verde | 94 | 36.5 | 180 | 30 |
Cambodia | 95 | 21 | 173 | 40 |
Hungary | 95 | 48.4 | 277 | 11 |
St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 97 | 38.6 | 108 | 36 |
Dominica | 98 | 37 | 117 | 37 |
Barbados | 99 | 34.7 | 237 | 28 |
Samoa | 100 | 18.1 | 224 | 37 |
Kenya | 101 | 37.1 | 201.5 | 30 |
Malawi | 102 | 34.5 | 174.5 | 35 |
Israel | 103 | 30.6 | 235 | 33 |
South Sudan | 104 | 29 | 210 | 37 |
Uganda | 105 | 36.5 | 209 | 31 |
Ghana | 106 | 32.7 | 224 | 33 |
Ukraine | 107 | 52.2 | 350 | 5 |
Fiji | 108 | 31.1 | 195 | 39 |
Lesotho | 109 | 13.6 | 324 | 32 |
Papua New Guinea | 110 | 39.3 | 207 | 32 |
Burundi | 111 | 40.3 | 274 | 25 |
Paraguay | 111 | 35 | 378 | 20 |
Ethiopia | 113 | 32.1 | 306 | 30 |
Trinidad and Tobago | 114 | 32.2 | 210 | 39 |
Uzbekistan | 115 | 41.1 | 192.5 | 33 |
Micronesia, Fed. Sts. | 116 | 60.5 | 128 | 21 |
Guyana | 117 | 32.3 | 256 | 35 |
Liberia | 118 | 47.8 | 139.5 | 33 |
Syrian Arab Republic | 119 | 42.7 | 336 | 20 |
Mozambique | 120 | 36.1 | 217 | 37 |
Japan | 121 | 51.3 | 330 | 14 |
Czech Republic | 122 | 50.4 | 405 | 8 |
Iran, Islamic Rep. | 123 | 44.1 | 344 | 20 |
Nepal | 124 | 29.5 | 334 | 34 |
Marshall Islands | 125 | 64.8 | 128 | 21 |
Philippines | 126 | 42.9 | 193 | 36 |
Lao PDR | 127 | 25.3 | 362 | 35 |
Maldives | 128 | 30.2 | 394.5 | 30 |
Sierra Leone | 129 | 31 | 344 | 34 |
Uruguay | 130 | 41.8 | 277 | 31 |
Palau | 131 | 75.4 | 142 | 11 |
China | 132 | 67.8 | 261 | 9 |
Grenada | 132 | 45.3 | 140 | 42 |
Puerto Rico (U.S.) | 134 | 65.8 | 218 | 16 |
Yemen, Rep. | 135 | 33.1 | 248 | 44 |
Colombia | 136 | 69.7 | 239 | 11 |
Italy | 137 | 64.8 | 269 | 14 |
Kyrgyz Republic | 138 | 29 | 225 | 51 |
Ecuador | 139 | 33 | 654 | 8 |
Sudan | 140 | 45.4 | 180 | 42 |
Angola | 141 | 48.4 | 282 | 30 |
Albania | 142 | 36.5 | 357 | 34 |
Haiti | 143 | 40.3 | 184 | 47 |
Serbia | 143 | 39.7 | 244.3 | 42 |
Zimbabwe | 145 | 32.8 | 242 | 49 |
Jamaica | 146 | 35.2 | 358 | 37 |
St. Kitts and Nevis | 147 | 49.7 | 203 | 39 |
Indonesia | 148 | 29.7 | 234 | 54 |
Mali | 149 | 48.3 | 270 | 35 |
Tanzania | 150 | 43.9 | 179 | 49 |
Egypt, Arab Rep. | 151 | 45 | 392 | 29 |
Guinea-Bissau | 152 | 45.5 | 208 | 46 |
Burkina Faso | 153 | 41.3 | 270 | 45 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 154 | 23.3 | 420 | 45 |
Honduras | 155 | 44.3 | 224 | 48 |
Niger | 156 | 48.2 | 270 | 41 |
India | 157 | 60.6 | 243 | 33 |
Gabon | 158 | 45.7 | 488 | 26 |
Sri Lanka | 158 | 55.2 | 167 | 47 |
Libya | 160 | 32.8 | 889 | 19 |
Antigua and Barbuda | 161 | 41.9 | 207 | 57 |
El Salvador | 162 | 38.7 | 312 | 53 |
Togo | 163 | 48.5 | 270 | 50 |
São Tomé and Príncipe | 164 | 38.2 | 424 | 45 |
Nicaragua | 165 | 63.9 | 207 | 43 |
Panama | 166 | 37.2 | 417 | 52 |
Comoros | 167 | 216.5 | 100 | 33 |
Vietnam | 168 | 39.4 | 770 | 30 |
Algeria | 169 | 72.7 | 385 | 27 |
Argentina | 170 | 137.4 | 405 | 9 |
Pakistan | 171 | 32.6 | 594 | 47 |
Tajikistan | 172 | 81.8 | 276 | 28 |
Congo, Dem. Rep. | 173 | 54.6 | 346 | 52 |
Eritrea | 174 | 83.7 | 216 | 30 |
Equatorial Guinea | 175 | 47.1 | 492 | 46 |
Côte d’Ivoire | 176 | 51.9 | 270 | 63 |
Gambia, The | 177 | 63.3 | 326 | 50 |
Brazil | 178 | 69.2 | 2,600.00 | 9.6 |
Benin | 179 | 63.3 | 270 | 57 |
Cameroon | 180 | 48.8 | 630 | 44 |
Nigeria | 181 | 33.3 | 907.9 | 59 |
Congo, Rep. | 182 | 56 | 602 | 50 |
Senegal | 183 | 47.3 | 620 | 58 |
Guinea | 184 | 68.3 | 440 | 57 |
Central African Republic | 185 | 73.3 | 483 | 56 |
Chad | 186 | 63.5 | 732 | 54 |
Mauritania | 187 | 71.3 | 734 | 49 |
Venezuela, RB | 188 | 65 | 792 | 70 |
Bolivia | 189 | 83.7 | 1,025.00 | 42 |
Bangladesh – Dhaka | .. | 31.6 | 302 | 21 |
Bangladesh – Chittagong | .. | 31.6 | 302 | 21 |
Brazil – São Paulo | .. | 69.1 | 2,600.00 | 10 |
Brazil – Rio de Janeiro | .. | 69.4 | 2,600.00 | 9 |
China – Shanghai | .. | 67.2 | 261 | 9 |
China – Beijing | .. | 68.5 | 261 | 9 |
India – Mumbai | .. | 60.6 | 243 | 33 |
India – Delhi | .. | 60.6 | 243 | 33 |
Indonesia – Jakarta | .. | 29.7 | 234 | 54 |
Indonesia – Surabaya | .. | 29.7 | 234 | 54 |
Japan – Tokyo | .. | 51.3 | 330 | 14 |
Japan – Osaka | .. | 51.4 | 330 | 14 |
Mexico – Mexico City | .. | 51.7 | 286 | 6 |
Mexico – Monterrey | .. | 51.7 | 286 | 6 |
Nigeria – Lagos | .. | 33.4 | 956 | 59 |
Nigeria – Kano | .. | 33.3 | 747 | 59 |
Pakistan – Karachi | .. | 32.5 | 594 | 47 |
Pakistan – Lahore | .. | 32.8 | 594 | 47 |
Russian Federation – Moscow | .. | 47.1 | 168 | 7 |
Russian Federation – Saint Petersburg | .. | 46.8 | 168 | 7 |
United States – New York City | .. | 45.9 | 175 | 11 |
United States – Los Angeles | .. | 40.9 | 175 | 10 |