__NOTOC__<small-title />Taxes refer to funds originating from domestic taxes that are channelled to the water and sanitation sector via transfers from all levels of government, including national, regional and local ([[#GLAAS|GLAAS]], 2012). Taxes are typically used as subsidies or grants, for [[Capital Expenditure (CapEx)| capital expenditure]] or [[Operational and Minor Maintenance Expenditure (OpEx)|operational and minor maintenance expenditure]]. More ''hidden'' forms of these subsidies may include tax rebates (e.g. on toilet construction materials), soft loans, transfers from local government housing taxes, donations, subsidised inputs (e.g., electricity services), or “dormant” ''dormant'' equity investments (Hervé-Bazin, 2012). Subsidies from the national tax base include: <br>
* Subsidies to local or national water operators
* Subsidies to infrastructure owners
Most lower-income countries do not collect enough tax at decentralised levels of governance to finance infrastructure construction (, e.g. [[Capital Expenditure (CapEx)|capital expenditure]]) (IRC and WSUP, 2012). Most taxes in lower income countries are collected at national level and distributed to the different regions , according to an allocation formulae; and in general . Generally, allocations for water and sanitation are very limited (WHO, 2010).
===Examples===
'''Government expenditure on sanitation and drinking-water'''<br>
Government expenditure from taxes and transfers on sanitation and drinking-water ranged from 0.37% to 3.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ([[#GLAAS|GLAAS]], 2012, p. 28).
<center>'''Figure 1. Public spending (from funds obtained through domestic taxes and external transfers)<br>on sanitation and drinking-water as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (2010 data)'''</center>[[Image:Taxes fg 1.jpg|thumb|centernone|500px|<center>Source: 2011 [[#GLAAS |GLAAS]] country survey; World Bank (2012) <br>Note: Not all countries reported contributions from regional and local governments (i.e. Egypt, Kenya and Yemen).</center>]]
====Senegal: Social connection program====
The government of Senegal actively supports the growth of both the water and sanitation sector through government subsidies. Often water infrastructure may exist, but low income households cannot afford the [[Capital Expenditure (CapEx)| capital expenditure]] of connecting their household to the water line. Therefore the government of Senegal has started with “Social connection”''Social connection''; up to 85% of the cost of a household connection may be subsidized by the state through the social connection program. The Senegalese Government has sustained these programs over several years, leading to the dramatic increase in water coverage, especially in urban areas (Dibner-Dunlap, 2009). For example, 69% of all new household connections to the city water line in the city of Louga, between the years of 2001-2007, were done under the subsidy program. (Dibner-Dunlap, 2009, page 28).
====Akvo RSR Projects==== The following project(s) are utilizing taxation as a method of paying for water systems or services.<br>{|style="border: 2px solid #e0e0e0; width: 20%; text-align: justify; background-color: #e9f5fd;" cellpadding="2"|- style="vertical-align: top"|[[Image:akvorsr logo_lite.png|center|60px|link=http://akvo.org/products/rsr/]]|- style="vertical-align: bottom"|[[Image:project 1374.png |thumb|center|140px|<font size="2"><center>[http://rsr.akvo.org/project/1374/ RSR Project 1374]<br>Integrated Community <br>Water and Hygiene</center></font>|link=http://rsr.akvo.org/project/1374/ ]] |} <br> ===Key documents===* Dibner-Dunlap, A., et al, 2009. [http://sipawww.columbiasswm.eduinfo/academicssites/concentrationsdefault/epdfiles/documentsreference_attachments/WaterAidAmericaFinalReport_2009DIBNER%20DUNLAP%20et%20al%202009%20A%20Review%20of%20Local%20Tax%20Policy%20to%20Expand%20Water%20Access.pdf A review of local tax policy to expand water and sanitation access: prepared for WaterAid Madagascar and WaterAid America]. New York, NY, USA, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University* Hervé-Bazin, C., 2012. [http://http://celinehervebazin.fileswww.wordpressecologic.comeu/2012/03/eureau-3ts-short-guide-version-internet.pdf 4154 ''3Ts'': tariffsTariffs, taxes Taxes and transfers Transfers in the European water sector: short guide]. Brussels, Belgium: EUREAU * IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre and Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP), (2012). [http://www.ircircwash.nlorg/pageresources/69961 financing-water-and-sanitation-poor-six-key-solutions Financing water and sanitation for the poor: six key solutions]. Discussion paper. DP#003.
* UN-water global annual assessment of sanitation and drinking-water (GLAAS), 2012. [http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/pdf/glaas_report_2012_eng.pdf The challenge of extending and sustaining services]. Report. World Health Organization. ISBN 978 92 4 150336 5.
* OECD. 2009. Managing water for all: an OECD perspective on pricing and financing. Paris: OECD.
* Sijbesma, C., 2011. [http://www.ircircwash.nlorg/top25 resources/sanitation-financing-models-urban-poor Sanitation Financing models for the urban poor]. Thematic Overview Paper 25. [online] The Hague: IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre (Published November 2011). * Mathew, K., Suma, Z. and Joseph, R., 2008. Preventing corruption, encouraging transparency and accountability in the water and sanitation sectors- a case study from Kerala, India. In: Wicken, J., et al., eds., 2008. [http://www.ircircwash.nlorg/pageresources/43966 beyond-construction-use-all-overview-south-asian-sanitation-and-hygiene-practitioners%E2%80%99 Beyond construction: Use by all, A collection of case studies from sanitation and hygiene promotion practitioners in South Asia]. [online] Delft: IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre, London: WaterAid, Dhaka: BRAC. [Accessed 10 November 2011].
* WHO and UN-Water, 2012. [http://washurl.net/6jo133 UN-Water global annual assessment of sanitation and drinking-water (GLAAS) 2012 report: the challenge of extending and sustaining services]. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization (WHO)
* Winpenny, J., 2011. [http://www.gwptoolbox.org/images/stories/Docs/euwi%20fwg%20primer%20on%20financing%202011.pdf Financing for water and sanitation: a primer for practitioners and students in developing countries]. Stockholm, Sweden: The European Union Water Initiative Finance Working Group, EUWI-FWG.
===Links===* [http://www.ircwash.org/ IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre ] is a knowledge broker, innovator and catalyst of change within the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector working internationally and in selected focus countries and regions. IRC seeks to extend WASH services to the less privileged, while ensuring that services are based on the sustainable use of water resources, are appropriately managed, and are better governed. IRC works in partnership with governments, the public and private sector, Dutch and international organisations, UN institutions, development banks and non-governmental networks and organisations. For more information see: <div id="GLAAS">'''GLAAS'''</div>[http://www.ircwho.nl ircint/water_sanitation_health/publications/glaas_report_2012/en/index.nl]* html Global Analysis and Assessment of Sanitation and Drinking-Water (GLAAS) ] is produced every two years by the World Health Organization (WHO) on behalf of UN-Water. It provides a global update on the policy frameworks, institutional arrangements, human resource base, and international and national finance streams in support of sanitation and drinking-water. For more information see: [http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/publications/glaas_report_2012/en/index.html who.int/water_sanitation_health/publications/glaas_report_2012/en/index.html]