What is a proportional tax structure?
A proportional tax is a tax imposed so that the tax rate is fixed as the amount subject to taxation increases.[1] In simple terms, it imposes an equal burden (relative to resources) on the rich and poor. “Proportional” describes a distribution effect on income or expenditure, referring to the way the rate remains consistent (does not progress from “low to high” or “high to low” as income or consumption changes), where the marginal tax rate is equal to the average tax rate.[2][3] It can be applied to individual taxes or to a tax system as a whole; a year, multi-year, or lifetime. Proportional taxes maintain equal tax incidence regardless of the ability-to-pay and do not shift the incidence disproportionately to those with a higher or lower economic well-being.
