Passive value capture through income taxation, and a beneficiaries-based funding model for infrastructure

Abstract

Value capture is used to describe a range of mechanisms used to fund infrastructure projects. Active value capture mechanisms, specifically designed to raise revenue are well documented including land taxes, asset sales and other mechanisms with a direct nexus to the infrastructure that it funds. However passive value capture mechanisms exist, through extant government tax systems that capture value without being part of a specific program or policy to pay for infrastructure. These and their potential role in infrastructure investment are not well documented, with increased income tax collection representing a potentially significant stream of value capture funding for infrastructure investment. Through analysing current business cases with business beneficiaries, this paper documents income tax value capture and demonstrates how it may play a role in project funding. A beneficiary funding framework is developed to show how government investment levels may be structured to allow economically but non-financially viable projects to proceed to create value within the bounds of treasury constraints.