OECD Revenue Statistics 2010 are published with headline results showing the latest comparable data and analysis on tax trends in all OECD countries. Not surprising, tax revenues fell in cash terms during 2009 in most OECD countries, driven downward by declining economic activity and tax cuts aimed at cushioning the effects of the recession that followed the financial crisis.

Tax revenues as a share of GDP, ‘the tax burden’ are also trending downward across OECD countries to the lowest level since the early 1990s. In 2007 the tax burden was 35.4 per cent, then dropped to 34.8 per cent in 2008, and fell again in 2009 to an estimated 33.7 per cent.

Ireland featured among countries which have seen the largest changes in tax burdens since 2007 with a decline of 3 to 4 percentage points from 2007 to 2009.

For further details on the headline statistics see http://www.oecd.org/document/49/0,3746,en_2649_37427_46737201_1_1_1_37427,00.html