The EU Youth Tax Literacy Program is an educational initiative by TAXpedia that makes the fundamental concepts of taxation and public finance accessible, connecting them to European citizenship and democratic participation. Through short lessons based on official sources, the program helps young people interpret income and consumption taxes, understand the role of contributions, and critically analyze how public services and policies are financed at the national and European levels.
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Download the lessons
Each lesson is designed to be read individually. They contain definitions, key concepts, and a final summary.
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Starter Pack: Taxes 101
Types of taxes, what they are for, who pays them (legal vs. real), key differences between taxes and contributions.
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IRPEF and income taxes
What is IRPEF, how do income taxes work?
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VAT and consumption taxes
What is VAT, why is it different from income taxes, and why “the one who pays it” is not always “the one who pays it”.
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EU budget
What is the European Union budget and how does it work?
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Public debt and deficit
What public debt and deficit are, how they arise, and why they matter for a country’s economy.
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The State budget
How the State budget is structured, where public revenue comes from, and how expenditure is planned.
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Public spending
How public resources are used, the main areas of expenditure, and how they affect citizens’ lives.
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Local public finance
How local and regional governments raise and use resources to fund services and investments.
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European funds
What European funds are, where they come from, and how they finance projects and investments across Member States.
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Understanding economic data
How to interpret economic indicators, charts, and statistics to better understand the economy and the news.
Disclaimer
Educational materials: This is not tax advice. Rules may change, always check official sources.