This thesis focuses on the revenue eects of the value added tax (VAT) har-
monisation in the European context. We elaborate on the topic by means of a
30-year panel regression analysis of 15 European countries, which derives the
impact of national VAT rate convergence towards the regional average. The
regression results conrm that the harmonisation can raise eciency of na-
tional VAT instruments, as the revenue increases with narrowing of the VAT
rate dierences. The results of the regression analysis are further used to es-
timate potential revenue gain from the VAT harmonisation in the year 2009.
The computed revenue gain represents approximately 5% of the European VAT
revenue. Apart from the revenue gain identication, we also analyse the cur-
rent deciencies of European VAT scheme, i:e:; Cross-border shopping and
Carousel frauds, and discuss potential solutions for both phenomena. In both
cases, the VAT rate harmonisation is conrmed helpful, having potential to
eradicate these inherent eciency threats, or at least to facilitate the reforms
necessary for their abolition.