Tax revenue refers to compulsory transfers to the central government for public purposes. Certain compulsory transfers such as fines, penalties and most social-security contributions are excluded. Refunds and corrections of erroneously collected tax revenue are treated as negative revenue. The total tax revenue is represented as a percentage of GDP.

This graphic runs from 1995. The difference between the tax revenue in 1995 compared to 2009 is negligible, with 18.8 per cent in 1995 increasing slightly to 19.8 per cent in 2009. Within this period we see the level peak in 1999 at 23.41 per cent. Interestingly what is noticeable is no incline in tax receipts following the financial crisis, which may have been offset by higher unemployment rates during this period and a corresponding increase in welfare payments.