The following points highlight the nine main sources of government revenue. The sources are: Source # 1. Tax: A tax is a compulsory levy imposed by a public authority against which taxpayers cannot claim anything. It is not imposed as a penalty for the only legal offence. The essence of a tax, as distinguished from other charges by the government, in the absence of a direct quid pro quo (i.e., exchange of favour) between the taxpayer and the public authority. The tax has three important features: (i) It is a compulsory contribution, to the state from the citizen. Anyone refusing to pay tax is punished under the law. Nobody can object to taxation on the ground that he is not getting the benefit of certain state services, (ii) It is the personal obligation of the individual to pay taxes under all circumstances, (iii) There is no direct relationship between benefit and tax payment. Source # 2. Rates: Rates refer to local taxation, i.e., taxation levied by (or for) local rather than t...
Just as there are well-known principles or canons of taxation, similarly it is possible to formulate some principles to which prudent public expenditure should conform. These principles are: 1) Principle of Maximum Social Benefit It is necessary that all public expenditure should satisfy one fundamental test, viz., that of Maximum Social Advantage. That is, the government should discover and maintain an optimum level of public expenditure by balancing social benefits and social costs. Every rupee spent by a government must have as its aim the promotion of the maximum welfare of the society as a whole. Care has to be taken that public funds are not utilized for the benefit of a particular group or a section of society. The aim is the general welfare. Government exists for the benefit of the governed and the justification of the government expenditure is, therefore, to be sought for the benefit of the community as a whole. 2) Canon of Economy Although the aim of public expenditure i...