The optimal level of tax burden on payroll: estimation and prospects

This article examines citizens’ income taxation and institutional framework for charging a unified social tax as well as prospects for their development as a result of tax system reform in Ukraine. The study determines the optimal level of tax burden on the payroll to enable both maximizing budget revenues and reducing shadow income level. It also reveals the relationship between excessive taxation of payroll and the high level of the shadow economy resulted from inefficiency of existing tax rates and charging a unified social tax.