The impact of taxation on:

Cost of production

The imposition of a sales tax will shift the supply curve of a product to the left due to the higher costs of production. This will increase the price charged to customers and reduce the quantity produced and sold.

Incentives to work

If taxes are too high, this can create disincentives to work and to produce. By contrast, tax cuts can boost domestic spending, thus benefiting businesses and helping to create jobs.

Social behaviour

Taxation can be used to alter social behaviour with the intention of reducing the consumption of demerit goods. For example, taxing tobacco and alcohol should, in theory, reduce the demand for such products

Tax avoidance and Tax evasion

High taxes can encourage tax avoidance.

Tax avoidance is the legal act of minimising payment of taxes, such as by avoiding spending on items with a large sales tax.

High taxes can encourage tax evasion.

Tax evasion is the illegal act of not paying the correct amount of tax, perhaps due to a firm under-declaring its profits.

Income and wealth

The use of taxes can help to redistribute income and wealth from the relatively rich to the poorer members of society.