Investment tax incentives can take different forms, including CIT exemptions and reduced CIT rates (income-based incentives) accelerated depreciation, enhanced tax allowances, and tax credits (mostly expenditure-based incentives).
OECD (2026) reports that income-based tax incentives, such as exemptions and reduced rates, have been found to provide little value for money compared to expenditure-based incentives and risk windfall gains for investors that would have invested anyways.
Expenditure-based incentives, such as tax allowances and tax credits, can provide relief proportionate to expenditure, thereby reducing the cost of new investment and increasing the likelihood of promoting additional investment.