Hoppa yfir valmynd
Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs

Treasury finances 1997-1998. 6. Fiscal outlook for 1998

Treasury Finances 1997-1998
Iceland, December 1997

6. Fiscal outlook for 1998

Two items characterise the 1998 Budget Proposal. First, it reflects the Government's economic policy of reaching a balanced budget, reduce Treasury debt and thereby enhance the stability in the economy. Second, the Budget Proposal is now put forth under a new Act that requires the Budget to be presented on accruals basis as opposed to the cash basis on which it has hereto been presented (cf. chapter 5 above).
The Treasury finances are expected to improve further in 1998, compared to 1997. On cash basis, the revenue balance is expected to amount to 3.2 billion krónur, or 0.6% of GDP. The revenue balance on accruals basis is also positive, by 0.5 billion krónur. In comparison, the revenue balance on accruals basis in 1996 amounted to a deficit of 8.7 billion krónur.

Treasury finances 1997-1998
Cash basis - former presentation
Current
presentation
Millions of krónur
Budget
1997
Estimate
1997
Budget Bill
1998
Budget Bill
1998
Revenues
126,224
130,927
137,600
163,484
Expenditures
126,100
132,200
134,438
162,963
Expenditures, excl. effects of redemption
-
128,200
-
-
Revenue balance
124
-1,273
3,162
521
Revenue balance, excl. effects of redemption
-
2,727
-
-
Operating items that do not affect cash flow
-
-
-
1,018
Cash from operations
124
-1,273
3,162
1,539
Capital transactions
1,670
-1,825
1,827
3,450
Net borrowing requirement
-1,794
3,098
-4,989
-4,989

Total revenues on accruals basis are expected to amount to 163S billion krónur, while total expenditures amount to 163 billion krónur, leaving a slight surplus on accruals basis. In comparing the figures in the Budget Proposal for 1998 with 1997 figures, we refer back to cash basis in the former presentation. Thus, total revenues increase from 130.9 billion krónur to 137.6 billion or by 6.7 billion krónur between 1997 and 1998, two-thirds of which is due to higher revenue from turnover taxes. The rise in expenditures is only 2.2 billion krónur between 1997 and 1998, from 132.2 to 134.4. This is partly due to the redemption of Treasury securities made in 1997.

6.1 Revenues

Continued economic upswing contributes to growing Treasury revenues. On cash basis, revenues in 1998 are expected to exceed 1997 revenues by 6.7 billion krónur. In spite of this increase, tax revenues as a percentage of GDP are projected to fall considerably, or by 0.6% between 1997 and 1998. This lower percentage is largely due to a cut in the personal income tax.
The main changes in the Budget Proposal on the revenue side include actions to reduce the marginal tax rate of the personal income tax system. These include the two-year process of reducing the personal income tax by 4%. The general tax rate was reduced by 1.1% earlier this year; on January 1, 1998 a further reduction of 1.9% comes into effect and the final cut of 1% is effective on January 1, 1999. Furthermore, adjustment to the system of child benefits has been made in order to reduce the marginal effects (cf. further annex). In addition, the Government has decided to change the system of social security in order to reduce the marginal tax rates of social security recipients, at the same time social security benefits were raised substantially. Finally, changes were made to the Student Loan Fund, in order to reduce the payments of outstanding loans as a percentage of income.

Treasury revenues 1997-1998
Former presentation
Current presentation
Millions of krónur
Estimate
1997
Projection
1998
Accruals
basis
1998
Cash
basis
1998
1. Tax revenues
121,830
128,215
148,106
142,307
Taxes on income and profits
22,674
23,675
37,937
34,196
Individuals
17,374
17,170
30,781
27,691
Corporations
5,300
6,505
7,156
6,505
Social security taxes
14,710
15,232
15,095
14,730
Wealth taxes
3,966
4,200
7,959
7,816
Taxes on goods and services
77,390
81,844
86,810
85,260
Value added tax
49,128
52,150
53,590
52,150
Excises
17,882
18,592
20,568
20,548
Vehicle levies
4,925
5,050
5,140
5,050
Other taxes
5,455
6,052
7,512
7,512
Other taxes
3,090
3,264
305
305
2. Operating revenue
8,397
7,485
12,785
11,130
3. Sale of assets
700
1,900
1,921
1,921
5. Capital transfers
0
0
672
672
Total revenue
130,927
137,600
163,484
156,030
Taxes on income and profits

are expected to amount to 37.9 billion krónur on accruals basis in 1998. Of this amount, 30.8 billion are paid by individuals, while the remaining 7.1 billion are paid by corporations. The taxes on income and profits paid by individuals include the personal income tax and the capital income tax. While the personal income tax increases due to a higher wage level, the lowering of the general income tax rate acts in the opposite direction, thus revenue from personal income taxes falls between 1997 and 1998.
Taxes on income and profits levied on individuals is much higher on accruals basis than on the former cash basis, as child benefits, interest rebates and church levies are subtracted from the cash basis, while accounted for on the expenditure side on accruals basis.


Corporate income taxes are expected to amount to 7.1 billion krónur in 1998, which is an increase from 1997, partly due to the corporatisation the Post and Telecommunications monopoly (Póstur og sími).

Social security taxes are expected to amount to 15.1 billion krónur in 1998. This is an increase compared to 1997, mostly due to higher wages and lower unemployment.

Wealth taxes continue to increase as net wealth of individuals continues to rise as the economic recovery continues. The difference in the former and current presentation lies in the fact that stamp duties are currently classified under this heading, but formerly under taxes on goods and services.

Taxes on goods and services are expected to amount to 86.8 billion krónur in 1998 and remain the largest share of Treasury revenues. The value added tax is expected to yield 53.6 billion krónur in revenue in 1998 which is an increase in line with increased economic activity.
Excises are also expected to increase in line with growth in private consumption and imports and amount to 20.6 billion krónur. Included in this category are excises on motor vehicles in the amount of 4 billion krónur, as a further increase in imports of automobiles is expected in the coming year. Excises on petrol are expected to amount to 7.2 billion krónur. Revenue from taxes on alcohol and tobacco is also expected to increase.

Operating revenue is projected in the amount of 12.8 billion krónur in 1998. This item includes profits from state-owned enterprises, rental income, interest income and numerous taxes on the use of goods or perform activities.

Sale of assets. In 1998, there are plans to sell the government's share of Iceland Prime Contractor Ltd. Also, almost half of the government's share in the new incorporated Investment Bank will be sold to the public. The book value of these assets is already accounted for (in the 1997 figures) and thus, only the value in excess of that amount will count as government revenues. These are estimated 1.9 billion krónur, for a total sale value of 6.2 billion krónur.

Capital transfers are estimated 0.7 billion krónur in 1998 and include various revenue sources formerly subtracted from the expenditure side as user charges.

6.2 Expenditures

Expenditures are expected to amount to 163 billion krónur in 1998. As a share of GDP, expenditures also fall considerably next year, or by 1.6% of GDP. This is largely due to lower interest payments (a shift between 1997 and 1998 due to the redemption of Treasury securities explained above), as well as lower outlays for investment and maintenance. Appropriations for welfare and education increase in 1998, while other appropriations either remain unchanged or fall.

The main changes on the expenditure side arise from government entities included in the Budget, which formerly were not accounted for in the Budget.

Operating expenditures, i.e. wages and other current expenditure are expected to amount to 62.1 billion krónur in 1998. This reflects the continued policy of curtailing expenditures. However, expenditures for nursing homes for the elderly and disabled will be raised along with other increases in expenditure for the health sector. Furthermore, outlays for education will be increased. Other operating expenditures will remain unchanged or fall slightly in 1998.
Total wage payments are estimated 47.3 billion krónur. During 1997, wage agreements were made with most public sector unions which are in effect until the year 2000, stipulating an increase in wages higher than estimated changes in the price level.

Treasury expenditure 1996-1998
Cash basis
Accruals basis
Millions of krónur
1996
Budget
1997
Estimate
1997
Budget Bill
1998
Budget Bill
1998
Operating expenditure
52,256
47,037
47,900
52,038
62,140
Transfer payments
49,678
51,930
52,900
56,018
68,570
Cost of capital, interest payments
23,832
13,550
17,550
12,300
16,200
Maintenance
3,936
3,853
3,800
3,730
3,730
Capital expenditures
10,028
9,730
10,550
10,352
12,323
Total expenditures
139,730
126,100
132,700
134,438
162,963

Transfer payments

in 1998 are expected to amount to 68.6 billion krónur. Changes in the classification of transfer payments include items not previously included in the Budget, such as charges levied according to law as applies to user charges for state television and radio. These items add 2S billion krónur to the expenditure side (as well as being classified as revenues). In addition, the items previously subtracted from income tax revenue, child benefits, interest rebates and church levies are now counted as transfer payments, which adds 10 billion krónur to transfer payments.
Transfer payments to pensioners and the unemployed are estimated 24 billion krónur, compared to 21.7 billion krónur in 1997. Agricultural subsidies amount to 6.6 billion krónur which is a reduction of 0.3 billion krónur.
Currently, the central government and the municipalities are aiming to reach an agreement to the effect that the municipalities take over and finance the rent subsidy system, which was established in 1995, from 1998 on. The municipalities are aiming to include all apartments for rent, such as the apartments rented through the municipalities' social system and that all municipalities will pay rent subsidies.

Cost of capital. Accrued interest payments are estimated 16.2 billion krónur, while interest payments payable in 1998 amount to 12.3 billion krónur. This is 4.7 billion krónur lower than in 1997 and is mostly attributable to the redemption of Treasury securities initiated in early 1997, in the amount of 4 billion krónur

The difference between accrued and payable interest payments in the amount of 3.9 billion krónur surfaces in Treasury savings bonds where the interest payments accrue during the lifetime of the bond, but are only payable at maturity.

Maintenance. Appropriations for maintenance are 3.7 billion krónur. Thereof, 3.2 billion krónur are allocated for the upkeep of roads.

Capital expenditures. Appropriations for capital expenditures are 12.3 billion krónur in 1998. Outlays for road construction are estimated in the amount of 3.6 billion krónur compared with 3.3 billion krónur in 1997. Appropriations for the construction of a new ship for marine research are 1.3 billion krónur. Capital expenditures for the health sector are proposed to amount to 1 billion krónur in 1998.

6.3 Borrowing requirement

The net borrowing requirement for the Treasury will, for the first time in years, be negative in 1998, in the amount of 5 billion krónur, or 0.9% of GDP. This represents a shift of 8 billion krónur from 1997. This is largely due to plans to sell government owned corporations, most notably nearly a half of the shares in a newly established Investment Bank.
Thus, Treasury debt continues to fall, from 49% of GDP at year-end 1996, down to 42S% in 1998. This development is also reflected in total public debt, which falls from 57% of GDP at year-end 1996 to 51% in 1998.
The net borrowing requirement of the overall public sector is, on the other hand, still positive in the amount of 8.1 billion krónur, or 1.4% of GDP, compared with 3.4% of GDP estimated in 1997. Nevertheless, this is the lowest figure registered since the mid 1980s.


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