VAT Refunds

Many countries offer VAT refunds to international travellers, both individual and business travellers. While VAT refunds are commonly utilized by tourists, the process for business travellers to reclaim VAT can be more complex. As a result, eligible refunds for business travel are often left unclaimed.

Some countries, particularly in Western Europe, offer VAT refunds on business-related expenses to encourage the hosting of business meetings, events, and conferences within their borders. These refunds often extend to costs incurred during trade fairs and exhibitions. In certain countries, VAT paid on meals and fuel may also be eligible for a refund.

Without any tax

Without any tax

• A widget manufacturer, for example, spends $1.00 on raw materials and uses them to make a widget.
• The widget is sold wholesale to a widget retailer for $1.20, leaving a gross margin of $0.20.
• The widget retailer then sells the widget to a widget consumer for $1.50, leaving a gross margin of $0.30.

With a sales tax

With a 10% sales tax (tax amount in bold):

With a 10% sales tax

• The manufacturer spends $1.00 for the raw materials, certifying it is not a final consumer.
• The manufacturer charges the retailer $1.20, checking that the retailer is not a consumer, leaving the same gross margin of $0.20.
• The retailer charges the consumer ($1.50 × 1.10) = $1.65 and pays the government $0.15, leaving the gross margin of $0.30.

So the consumer has paid 10% ($0.15) extra, compared to the no taxation scheme, and the government has collected this amount in taxation. The retailers have not paid any tax directly (it is the consumer who has paid the tax), but the retailer has to do the paperwork in order to correctly pass on to the government the sales tax it has collected. Suppliers and manufacturers have the administrative burden of supplying correct state exemption certifications which the retailer must verify and maintain.

The manufacturer is also responsible for making sure that their customers (retailers) are only intermediates and not end consumers (otherwise the manufacturer itself would need to charge the tax). In addition, the retailer must keep track of what is taxable and what is not along with the various tax rates in each of the cities, counties and states for the 35,000+ global taxing jurisdictions.

With a value-added tax

With a 10% VAT (tax amounts in bold):

With a 10% VAT

• The manufacturer spends ($1 × 1.10) = $1.10 for the raw materials, and the seller of the raw materials pays the government $0.10.
• The manufacturer charges the retailer ($1.20 × 1.10) = $1.32 and pays the government ($0.12 minus $0.10) = $0.02, leaving the same gross margin of ($1.32 – $1.10 – $0.02) = $0.20.
• The retailer charges the consumer ($1.50 × 1.10) = $1.65 and pays the government ($0.15 minus $0.12) = $0.03, leaving the same gross margin of ($1.65 – $1.32 – $0.03) = $0.30.
• The manufacturer and retailer realize less gross margin from a percentage perspective. If the cost of raw material production were shown, this would also be true of the raw material supplier's gross margin on a percentage basis.
• Note that the taxes paid by both the manufacturer and the retailer to the government are 10% of the values added by their respective business practices (e.g. the value added by the manufacturer is $1.20 minus $1.00, thus the tax payable by the manufacturer is ($1.20 – $1.00) × 10% = $0.02).

In the VAT example above, the consumer has paid, and the government received, the same dollar amount as with a sales tax. At each stage of the production, the seller collects a tax on behalf of the government and the buyer pays for the tax by paying a higher price. The buyer can then be reimbursed for paying the tax, but only by successfully selling the value-added product to the buyer or consumer in the next stage. In the previously shown examples, if the retailer fails to sell some of its inventory, it suffers a greater financial loss in the VAT scheme, in comparison to the sales tax regulatory system, by having paid a higher wholesale price on the product it wants to sell.

Each business is responsible for handling the necessary paperwork in order to pass on to the government the VAT it collected on its gross margin. The businesses are freed from any obligation to request certifications from purchasers who are not end users, and of providing such certifications to their suppliers, but they incur increased accounting costs for collecting the tax, which are not reimbursed by the taxing authority. For example, wholesale companies now have to hire staff and accountants to handle the VAT paperwork, which would not be required if they were collecting sales tax instead.

Limitations to the examples

In the above examples, we assumed that the same number of widgets were made and sold both before and after the introduction of the tax. This is not true in real life.

The supply and demand economic model suggests that any tax raises the cost of transaction for someone, whether it is the seller or purchaser. In raising the cost, either the demand curve shifts rightward, or the supply curve shifts upward. The two are functionally equivalent. Consequently, the quantity of a good purchased decreases, and/or the price for which it is sold increases.

This shift in supply and demand is not incorporated into the above example, for simplicity and because these effects are different for every type of good. The above example assumes the tax is non-distortionary.

Limitations of VAT

A supply-demand analysis of a taxed market

A VAT, like most taxes, distorts what would have happened without it. Because the price for someone rises, the quantity of goods traded decreases. Correspondingly, some people are worse off by more than the government is made better off by tax income. That is, more is lost due to supply and demand shifts than is gained in tax. This is known as a deadweight loss. If the income lost by the economy is greater than the government's income, the tax is inefficient. VAT and a non-VAT have the same implications on the microeconomic model.

The entire amount of the government's income (the tax revenue) may not be a deadweight drag, if the tax revenue is used for productive spending or has positive externalities – in other words, governments may do more than simply consume the tax income. While distortions occur, consumption taxes like VAT are often considered superior because they distort incentives to invest, save and work less than most other types of taxation – in other words, a VAT discourages consumption rather than production.

In the diagram on the right:

• Deadweight loss: the area of the triangle formed by the tax income box, the original supply curve, and the demand curve
• Government's tax income: the grey rectangle captioned “Tax Revenue”
• Total consumer surplus after the shift: the green area
• Total producer surplus after the shift: the yellow area

Example

→ In Germany a product is sold to a German reseller for $2,500+VAT ($3,000). The German reseller will claim the VAT back from the state (the refund time change in base of local laws and states) and will then charge the VAT to the customer.

→ In the USA a product is sold to another US reseller for $2,500 (without the sales tax) with a certificate of exemption. The US reseller will charge the sales tax to the customer.

Note: The VAT system adopted in Europe affects company cashflow due to compliance costs^[14] and fraud risk for governments due to overclaimed taxes.

It's different for B2B sales between countries, where will be applied the reverse charge (no VAT charged) or sales tax exemption, in case of B2C sales the seller should pay the VAT or sales tax to the consumer state (creating a controversial situation by asking to a foreign company to pay taxes of their taxable residents/citizens without jurisdiction on seller).

Armenia

In Armenia, the value added tax (VAT) is 20%. However, the expanded application is zero VAT for many operations and transactions in Armenia. That zero VAT is the source of controversies between the trade partners and Armenia, mainly between Russia, which is against the zero VAT and promotes wider use of tax credits. VAT is replaced with fixed payments, which are utilized for many taxpayers, operations, and transactions. The present VAT legislation in Armenia is based largely on the EU VAT Directive's principles.^[15]

The VAT system in Armenia is input-output based. Companies who have registered for VAT are allowed to subtract the VAT on their inputs from the VAT they charged on their sales and report the difference to the tax authorities.^[15] VAT is purchased quarterly. However, it is an exception when taxpayers state monthly payments. VAT is disbursed to the state's budget until the 20th day of the month after the tax period.^[16] It came into effect on January 1, 2022. The draft law on the VAT plans were passed on November 11, 2021, and the plans were accepted on November 17.^[17]

Australia

The goods and services tax (GST) is a value-added tax introduced in Australia in 2000, which is collected by the Australian Tax Office. The revenue is then redistributed to the states and territories via the Commonwealth Grants Commission process. In essence, this is Australia's program of horizontal fiscal equalisation. Whilst the rate is currently set at 10%, there are many domestically consumed items that are effectively zero-rated (GST-free) such as fresh food, education, and health services, certain medical products, as well as exemptions for Government charges and fees that are themselves in the nature of taxes.

Bangladesh

Value-added tax (VAT) in Bangladesh was introduced in 1991, replacing sales tax and most excise duties. The Value Added Tax Act, 1991 was enacted that year and VAT started its passage from 10 July 1991. In Bangladesh, 10 July is observed as National VAT Day. Within the passage of 25 years, VAT has become the largest source of Government Revenue. About 56% of total tax revenue is VAT revenue in Bangladesh. Standard VAT rate is 15%. Export is zero rated. Besides these rates there are several reduced rates, locally called Truncated Rates, for service sectors ranging from 1.5% to 10%. To increase the productivity of VAT, the Government enacted the Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Act of 2012. This law was initially scheduled to operate online with an automated administration from 1 July 2017, however this pilot project was extended for another two years.^[18]

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Bangladesh is the apex organization administering the value-added tax. Relevant rules and acts include: Value Added Tax Act, 1991;^{[19][20][21][22]} Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Act, 2012;^[20] Development Surcharge and Levy (Imposition and Collection) Act, 2015;^[23] and Value Added Tax and Supplementary Duty Rules, 2016.^[24] Anyone who is selling a product and collects VAT from buyers becomes a VAT Trustee if they: register their business and collect a Business Identification Number (BIN) from the NBR; submit VAT returns on time; offer VAT receipts to consumers; store all cash-memos; and use the VAT rebate system responsibly. Anyone who works in the VAT or Customs department in the NBR and deals with VAT trustees is a VAT Mentor. The flat rate of VAT is 15%.

Barbados

VAT in Barbados was introduced on 1 January 1997 and replaced 11 other different taxes.^[25] It was originally introduced at a rate of 15% but was later increased to a rate of 17.5% on most goods and services in 2011.^[26] VAT on restaurant and hotel accommodations between 10% and 15% while no tax is levied on certain foods and goods listed by the government.^[27] The revenue is collected by the Barbados Revenue Authority.^[28]

Bulgaria

Value-added tax (VAT) in Bulgarian is currently 20% as of 2023. The reduced VAT rate of 9% on baby foods and hygiene products, as well as on books, is made permanent (it was due to expire at the end of 2022). A permanent reduced VAT rate of 9% will also apply to physical or electronic periodicals, such as newspapers and magazines, as of 1 January 2023.

Canada

Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a sales tax introduced by the Federal Government in 1991 at a rate of 7%, later reduced to the current rate of 5%. A Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) that combines the GST and provincial sales tax together, is collected in New Brunswick (15%), Newfoundland (15%), Nova Scotia (15%), Ontario (13%) and Prince Edward Island (15%), while British Columbia had a 12% HST from 2010 until 2013. Quebec has a de facto 14.975% HST: its provincial sales tax follows the same rules as the GST, and both are collected together by Revenu Québec.

Advertised and posted prices generally exclude taxes, which are calculated at the time of payment; common exceptions are motor fuels, the posted prices for which include sales and excise taxes, and items in vending machines as well as alcohol in monopoly stores. Basic groceries, prescription drugs, inward/outbound transportation and medical devices are exempt. Other provinces that do not have a HST may have a Provincial Sales Tax (PST), PSTs are collected in British Columbia (7%), Manitoba (7%) and Saskatchewan (6%). The province of Alberta and all three territories do not collect either a HST or PST.

Chile

VAT in Chile was introduced in 1974 through the Decreto Ley 825.^[29] Since 2003, the standard rate of VAT is 19%. This tax makes the 41.2% of the total revenue of the country.^[30]

China

VAT was implemented in China in 1984 and is administered by the State Administration of Taxation. In 2007, the revenue from VAT was 15.47 billion yuan ($2.2 billion) which made up 33.9 percent of China's total tax revenue for the year. The standard rate of VAT in China is 13%. There is a reduced rate of 9% that applies to products such as books and types of oils, and 6% for services except for PPE lease.^[31]

European Union

The European Union value-added tax (EU VAT) covers consumption of goods and services and is mandatory for member states of the European Union. The EU VAT's key issue asks where the supply and consumption occurs thereby determining which member state will collect the VAT and which VAT rate will be charged.

Each member state's national VAT legislation must comply with the provisions of EU VAT law,^[32] which requires a minimum standard rate of 15% and one or two reduced rates not to be below 5%. Some EU members have a 0% VAT rate on certain supplies; these states would have agreed this as part of their EU Accession Treaty (for example, newspapers and certain magazines in Belgium). Certain goods and services must be exempt from VAT (for example, postal services, medical care, lending, insurance, betting), and certain other goods and services to be exempt from VAT but subject to the ability of an EU member state to opt to charge VAT on those supplies (such as land and certain financial services). The highest rate currently in operation in the EU is 27% (Hungary), though member states are free to set higher rates. There is, in fact, only one EU country (Denmark) that does not have a reduced rate of VAT.^[33]

There are some areas of member states (both overseas and on the European continent) which are outside the EU VAT area, and some non-EU states that are inside the EU VAT area. External areas may have no VAT or may have a rate lower than 15%. Goods and services supplied from external areas to internal areas are considered imported. (See EU VAT area § EU VAT area for a full listing.)

VAT that is charged by a business and paid by its customers is known as "output VAT" (that is, VAT on its output supplies). VAT that is paid by a business to other businesses on the supplies that it receives is known as "input VAT" (that is, VAT on its input supplies). A business is generally able to recover input VAT to the extent that the input VAT is attributable to (that is, used to make) its taxable outputs. Input VAT is recovered by setting it against the output VAT for which the business is required to account to the government, or, if there is an excess, by claiming a repayment from the government.

Private people are generally allowed to buy goods in any member country and bring it home and pay only the VAT to the seller. Input VAT that is attributable to VAT-exempt supplies is not recoverable, although a business can increase its prices so the customer effectively bears the cost of the "sticking" VAT (the effective rate will be lower than the headline rate and depend on the balance between previously taxed input and labour at the exempt stage).

Gulf Cooperation Council

Increased growth and pressure on the GCC's governments to provide infrastructure to support growing urban centers, the Member States of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), which together make up the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), have felt the need to introduce a tax system in the region.

In particular, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 1 January 2018 implemented VAT. For companies whose annual revenues exceed $102,000 (Dhs 375,000), registration is mandatory. Oman's Minister of Financial Affairs indicated that GCC countries have agreed the introductory rate of VAT is 5%.^[34][35][36] The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia VAT system was implemented on 1 January 2018 at 5% rate. However, on 11 May 2020 the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced to increase the VAT from 5% to 15% as of 1 July 2020, due to the effects of the Corona pandemic and the decline in oil prices.^[37]

India

VAT was introduced into the Indian taxation system from 1 April 2005. Of the then 28 Indian states, eight did not introduce VAT at first instance. There is uniform VAT rate of 5% and 14.5% all over India. The government of Tamil Nadu introduced an act by the name Tamil Nadu Value Added Tax Act 2006 which came into effect from 1 January 2007. It was also known as the TN-VAT. Under the BJP government, a new national Goods and Services Tax was introduced under the One Hundred and First Amendment of the Constitution of India.

Indonesia

Value-added tax (VAT) was introduced into the Indonesian taxation system from 1 April 1985. General VAT rate is ten percent. There are currently plans to raise the standard VAT rate to 12%. Using indirect subtraction method with invoice to calculate value-added tax payable. VAT was Collected by the Directorate General of Taxation, Ministry of Finance. Some goods and services are exempt from VAT like basic commodities vital to the general public, medical or health services, religion services, educational services and Services provided by the government in respect of carrying out general governmental administration.

Italy

The Italian Government used to apply a full value multi-phase tax on sales (IGE), but it switched in 1973 to the more efficient IVA, an indirect multi-phase tax on the Added Value. It uses a system of compensation (Debit-Credit Tax) and companies pay the tax on the good and services they buy. However, they can deduct it, bringing it to compensation with the taxes they collect form their client. In the end the system allows to apply a final taxation to the consumer of a fixed amount, regardless of the taxation applied during the production process. The percentages are: 4% for essential goods and services, 10% for medicine and some foodstuffs, 22% for ordinary goods and services.

Israel

Value-added tax (VAT) was first imposed in Israel on 1 July 1976, by virtue of the Value Added Tax Law, following the recommendations of the Asher Committee, which dealt with this matter during the first Rabin government. The initial rate of VAT was 8%.

From June 2013 to September 2015, the VAT rate was 18 percent. Since then, the VAT rate in Israel has been 17%.

Japan

Consumption tax (消費税, shōhizei) in Japan is 8%, which consists of a national tax rate of 6.3% and a local tax of 1.7%.^[38][39] It is usually (but not always) included in posted prices. From 1 October 2019, the tax rate is proposed to increase to 10% for most goods, while groceries and other basic necessities will remain at 8%.^[40]

Malaysia

The goods and services tax (GST) is a value-added tax introduced in Malaysia in 2015, which is collected by the Royal Malaysian Customs Department. The standard rate is currently set at 6%. Many domestically consumed items such as fresh foods, water, electricity and land public transportation are zero-rated, while some supplies such as education and health services are GST exempted. After being revised by the newly elected government after the General Election 14, GST will be removed across Malaysia from 1 June 2018 onwards.

As of 8 August 2018, the goods and services tax (GST) has been abolished and replaced by sales and services tax (SST) under the new government which promised to do so in their manifesto.^[41][42] The new SST or SST 2.0, is on track to be rolled out on 1 September 2018. Former Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said that failure to do so would result in an operating deficit of RM4 billion (approximately 969 million in USD) for the Malaysian government.^[43] Under the new tax system, selected items will be subjected to a 5% or 10% tax while services will be subjected to a 6% tax.

Mexico

Value-added tax (Spanish: Impuesto al Valor Agregado, IVA) is a tax applied in Mexico and other countries of Latin America. In Chile, it is also called Impuesto al Valor Agregado and, in Peru, it is called Impuesto General a las Ventas or IGV.

Prior to the IVA, a sales tax (Spanish: impuesto a las ventas) had been applied in Mexico. In September 1966, the first attempt to apply the IVA took place when revenue experts declared that the IVA should be a modern equivalent of the sales tax as it occurred in France. At the convention of the Inter-American Center of Revenue Administrators in April and May 1967, the Mexican representation declared that the application of a value-added tax would not be possible in Mexico at the time. In November 1967, other experts declared that although this is one of the most equitable indirect taxes, its application in Mexico could not take place.

In response to these statements, direct sampling of members in the private sector took place as well as field trips to European countries where this tax was applied or soon to be applied. In 1969, the first attempt to substitute the mercantile-revenue tax for the value-added tax took place. On 29 December 1978 the Federal government published the official application of the tax beginning on 1 January 1980 in the Official Journal of the Federation.

As of 2010, the general VAT rate was 16%. This rate was applied all over Mexico except for bordering regions (i.e. the United States border, or Belize and Guatemala), where the rate was 11%. The main exemptions are for books, food, and medicines on a 0% basis. Also some services are exempt like a doctor's medical attention. In 2014 Mexico Tax Reforms eliminated the favorable tax rate for border regions and increased the VAT to 16% across the country.

Nepal

VAT was implemented in 1998 and is the major source of government revenue. It is administered by Inland Revenue Department of Nepal. Nepal has been levying two rates of VAT: Normal 13% and zero rate. In addition, some goods and services are exempt from VAT.

New Zealand

The goods and services tax (GST) is a value-added tax that was introduced in New Zealand in 1986, currently levied at 15%. It is notable for exempting few items from the tax. From July 1989 to September 2010, GST was levied at 12.5%, and prior to that at 10%.

The Nordic countries

MOMS (Danish: merværdiafgift, formerly meromsætningsafgift), Norwegian: merverdiavgift (bokmål) or meirverdiavgift (nynorsk) (abbreviated MVA), Swedish: Mervärdes- och OMSättningsskatt (until the early 1970s labeled as OMS OMSättningsskatt only), Icelandic: virðisaukaskattur (abbreviated VSK), Faroese: meirvirðisgjald (abbreviated MVG) or Finnish: arvonlisävero (abbreviated ALV) are the Nordic terms for VAT. Like other countries' sales and VAT, it is an indirect tax.

In Denmark, VAT is generally applied at one rate, and with few exceptions is not split into two or more rates as in other countries (e.g. Germany), where reduced rates apply to essential goods such as foodstuffs. The current standard rate of VAT in Denmark is 25%. That makes Denmark one of the countries with the highest value-added tax, alongside Norway, Sweden and Croatia. A number of services have reduced VAT, for instance public transportation of private persons, health care services, publishing newspapers, rent of premises (the lessor can, though, voluntarily register as VAT payer, except for residential premises), and travel agency operations.

In Finland, the standard rate of VAT is 24% as of 1 January 2013 (raised from previous 23%), along with all other VAT rates, excluding the zero rate.^[44] In addition, two reduced rates are in use: 14% (up from previous 13% starting 1 January 2013), which is applied on food and animal feed, and 10%, (increased from 9% 1 January 2013) which is applied on passenger transportation services, cinema performances, physical exercise services, books, pharmaceuticals, entrance fees to commercial cultural and entertainment events and facilities.

Supplies of some goods and services are exempt under the conditions defined in the Finnish VAT Act: hospital and medical care; social welfare services; educational, financial and insurance services; lotteries and money games; transactions concerning bank notes and coins used as legal tender; real property including building land; certain transactions carried out by blind persons and interpretation services for deaf persons. The seller of these tax-exempt services or goods is not subject to VAT and does not pay tax on sales. Such sellers therefore may not deduct VAT included in the purchase prices of his inputs. Åland, an autonomous area, is considered to be outside the EU VAT area, even if its VAT rate is the same as for Finland. Goods brought from Åland to Finland or other EU countries are considered to be export/import goods. This enables tax-free sales onboard passenger ships.

In Iceland, VAT is split into two levels: 24% for most goods and services but 11% for certain goods and services. The 11% level is applied for hotel and guesthouse stays, licence fees for radio stations (namely RÚV), newspapers and magazines, books; hot water, electricity and oil for heating houses, food for human consumption (but not alcoholic beverages), access to toll roads and music.^[45]

In Norway, VAT is split into three levels: 25% general rate, 15% on foodstuffs and 12% on the supply of passenger transport services and the procurement of such services, on the letting of hotel rooms and holiday homes, and on transport services regarding the ferrying of vehicles as part of the domestic road network. The same rate applies to cinema tickets and to the previous television licence (abolished in January 2020).^[46] Financial services, health services, social services and educational services are all outside the scope of the VAT Act.^[47] Newspapers, books and periodicals are zero-rated.^[48] Svalbard has no VAT because of a clause in the Svalbard Treaty.

In Sweden, VAT is split into three levels: 25% for most goods and services, 12% for foods including restaurants bills and hotel stays and 6% for printed matter, cultural services, and transport of private persons. Some services are not taxable for example education of children and adults if public utility, and health and dental care, but education is taxable at 25% in case of courses for adults at a private school. Dance events (for the guests) have 25%, concerts and stage shows have 6%, and some types of cultural events have 0%.

MOMS replaced OMS (Danish omsætningsafgift, Swedish omsättningsskatt) in 1967, which was a tax applied exclusively for retailers.

Philippines

The current VAT rate in the Philippines stands at 12%. Like in most other countries, the amount of tax is included in the final sales price.

Senior citizens are however exempted from paying VAT for most goods and some services that are for their personal consumption. They will need to show a government-issued ID card that establishes their age at the till to avail of the exemption.

Russia

According to the Russian tax code the value-added tax is levied at the rate of 20% for all goods with several exemptions for several types of products and services (like medicare etc.). Taxpayers of value-added tax are recognized: Organizations (industrial and financial, state and municipal enterprises, institutions, business partnerships, insurance companies and banks), enterprises with foreign investments, individual entrepreneurs, international associations and foreign legal entities that carry out entrepreneurial activities in the territory of the Russian Federation, non-commercial organizations in the event of their commercial activities, and persons recognized as taxpayers of value-added tax in connection with the movement of goods across the customs border of the Customs Union.^[49][50][51]

Singapore

VAT is known as the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in Singapore. It was first introduced in 1994 at 3%, which was among the lowest in the world as the focus was not to generate substantial revenue, but to allow Singaporeans to get adjusted to the tax.^[52]

On 15 February 2007, Second Minister for Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam announced that the GST rate would be increased to 7% from 1 July 2007. On 19 February 2018, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat announced that the GST will be increased to 9% sometime between 2021 and 2025 to help spend more on healthcare, infrastructure and security.

On 18 February 2022, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong announced that the GST will rise from 7% to 9% in two stages in 2023 and 2024 to help to cushion the increase.^[53]

Spain

In Spain, the VAT law has categorized goods and services into three types based on function, with according tax percentages. These three types of VAT are general VAT, reduced VAT and super-reduced VAT. However, there are some goods to which this tax is not applied.

South Africa

Value-added tax (VAT) in South Africa was set at a rate of 14% and remained unchanged since 1993. Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba announced on 21 February 2018 that the VAT rate will be increased by one percentage point to 15%. Some basic food stuffs, as well as paraffin, will remain zero-rated. The new rate is to be effective from 1 April 2018.^[55]

Switzerland and Liechtenstein

Switzerland has a customs union with Liechtenstein that also includes the German exclave of Büsingen am Hochrhein. The Switzerland–Liechtenstein VAT area has a general rate of 7.7% and a reduced rate of 2.5%. A special rate of 3.7% is in use in the hotel industry.^[56]

Taiwan

Value-added tax (VAT) in Taiwan is currently 5% as of 1 June 2023.

Trinidad and Tobago

Value-added tax (VAT) in T&T is currently 12.5% as of 1 February 2016. Before that date VAT used to be at 15%.

Ukraine

In Ukraine, the revenue to state budget from VAT is the most significant. Under the Ukrainian tax code, there are three VAT rates:^[57] 20% (general tax rate; applied to most goods and services), 7% (special tax rate; applied mostly to medicines and medical products import and trade operations) and 0% (special tax rate; applied mostly to export of goods and services, international transport of passengers, baggage and cargo).

United Kingdom

The default VAT rate is the standard rate, 20% since 4 January 2011. Some goods and services are subject to VAT at a reduced rate of 5% or 0%. Others are exempt from VAT.

Due to COVID-19, the United Kingdom temporarily reduced the VAT on tourism and hospitality. These sectors had a reduced 5% VAT rate until 30 September 2021. Between 1 October 2021 and 31 March 2022 the VAT rate then raised to 12.5%. From 1 April 2022, the VAT rate returned to the standard 20%.

United States

In the United States, currently, there is no federal value-added tax (VAT) on goods or services. Instead, a sales and use tax is used in most US states. VATs have been the subject of much scholarship in the US and are one of the most contentious tax policy topics.^[58][59]

In 2015, Puerto Rico passed legislation to replace its 6% sales and use tax with a 10.5% VAT beginning 1 April 2016, although the 1% municipal sales and use tax will remain and, notably, materials imported for manufacturing will be exempted.^[60][61] In doing so, Puerto Rico will become the first US jurisdiction to adopt a value-added tax.^[61][62] However, two states have previously enacted a form of VAT as a form of business tax in lieu of a business income tax, rather than a replacement for a sales and use tax.

The state of Michigan used a form of VAT known as the "Single Business Tax" (SBT) as its form of general business taxation. It is the only state in the United States to have used a VAT. When it was adopted in 1975, it replaced seven business taxes, including a corporate income tax. On 9 August 2006, the Michigan Legislature approved voter-initiated legislation to repeal the Single Business Tax, which was replaced by the Michigan Business Tax on 1 January 2008.^[63]

The state of Hawaii has a 4% General Excise Tax (GET) that is charged on the gross income of any business entity generating income within the State of Hawaii. The State allows businesses to optionally pass on their tax burden by charging their customers a quasi sales tax rate of 4.166%.^[64] The total tax burden on each item sold is more than the 4.166% charged at the register since GET was charged earlier up the sales chain (such as manufacturers and wholesalers), making the GET less transparent than a retail sales tax.

Vietnam

Value-added tax (VAT) in Vietnam is a broadly based consumption tax assessed on the value added to goods and services arising through the process of production, circulation, and consumption. It is an indirect tax in Vietnam on domestic consumption applied nationwide rather than at different levels such as state, provincial or local taxes. It is a multi-stage tax which is collected at every stage of the production and distribution chain and passed on to the final customer. It is applicable to the majority of goods and services bought and sold for use in the country. Goods that are sold for export and services that are sold to customers abroad are normally not subject to VAT.

All organizations and individuals producing and trading VAT taxable goods and services in Vietnam have to pay VAT, regardless of whether they have Vietnam-based resident establishments or not.

Vietnam has three VAT rates: 0 percent, 5 percent and 10 percent. 10 percent is the standard rate applied to most goods and services unless otherwise stipulated.

A variety of goods and service transactions may qualify for VAT exemption.

European Union countries

EU VAT Tax Rates

Country	Standard rate (current)	Reduced rate (current)	Abbreviation	Local name
Austria	20%[68]	10% for rental for the purpose of habitation, food, garbage collection, most transportation, etc. 13% for plants, live animals and animal food, art, wine (if bought directly from the winemaker), etc.[69]	MwSt./USt.	MehrwertSteuer/UmsatzSteuer
Belgium	21%[70]	12% or 6% (for food or live necessary consumables) or 0% in some cases	BTW TVA MwSt	Belasting over de Toegevoegde Waarde Taxe sur la Valeur Ajoutée MehrwertSteuer
Bulgaria	20%[68]	9% (hotels) or 0%	ДДС	Данък Добавена Cтойност
Croatia	25%[68]	13% (since 1 January 2014) or 5% (since 1 January 2013)	PDV	Porez na Dodanu Vrijednost
Cyprus	19%[71]	5% (8% for taxi and bus transportation)	ΦΠΑ	Φόρος Προστιθέμενης Αξίας
Czech Republic	21%[68][72]	15% (food, public transport) or 10% (medicines, pharmaceuticals, books and baby foodstuffs)	DPH	Daň z přidané hodnoty
Denmark	25%[68][73]	0%	Moms	Meromsætningsafgift
Estonia	20%[68]	9%	Km	Käibemaks
Finland	24%[68]	14% (foodstuffs, restaurants) or 10% (medicines, cultural services and events, passenger transport, hotels, books and magazines)	ALV Moms	Arvonlisävero (Finnish) Mervärdesskatt (Swedish)
France	20%[68]	10% or 5.5% or 2.1%	TVA	Taxe sur la Valeur Ajoutée
Germany	19% (Heligoland 0%)[68][74]	7% for foodstuffs (except luxury-), books, flowers etc., 0% for postage stamps. (Heligoland always 0%)	MwSt./USt.	MehrwertSteuer/UmsatzSteuer
Greece	24%[68][75] (16% on Aegean islands)	13% (6.5% for hotels, books and pharmaceutical products) (8% and 4% on Aegean islands)	ΦΠΑ	Φόρος Προστιθέμενης Αξίας
Hungary	27%[76]	18% (milk and dairy products, cereal products, hotels, tickets to outdoor music events) or 5% (pharmaceutical products, medical equipment, books and periodicals, some meat products, district heating, heating based on renewable sources, live music performance under certain circumstances) or 0% (postal services, medical services, mother's milk, etc.)[77]	ÁFA	Általános Forgalmi Adó
Ireland	23%[68][78]	13.5% or 9.0% or 4.8% or 0%	CBl VAT	Cáin Bhreisluacha (Irish) Value Added Tax (English)
Italy	22%[68] (Livigno 0%)[68]	10% (hotels, bars, restaurants and other tourism products, certain foodstuffs, plant protection products and special works of building restoration, home-use utilities: electricity, gas used for cooking and water) or 4% (e.g. grocery staples, daily or periodical press and books, works for the elimination of architectural barriers, some kinds of seeds, fertilizers)	IVA	Imposta sul Valore Aggiunto
Latvia	21%[68]	12% or 0%	PVN	Pievienotās Vērtības Nodoklis
Lithuania	21%[68]	9% or 5%	PVM	Pridėtinės Vertės Mokestis
Luxembourg	17%[79]	14% on certain wines, 8% on public utilities, or 3% on books and press, food (including restaurant meals), children's clothing, hotel stays, and public transit[79]	TVA MwSt./USt MS	Taxe sur la Valeur Ajoutée Mehrwertsteuer/Umsatzsteuer Méiwäert Steier
Malta	18%[68]	7% or 5% or 0%	TVM VAT	Taxxa tal-Valur Miżjud Value Added Tax
Netherlands	21%[68]	9% for special categories of products and services like food, medicine and art. 0% for products and services that are already taxed in other countries or systems, for excise goods, and for fish.	BTW/Ob	Belasting over de Toegevoegde Waarde/ Omzetbelasting/ Voorbelasting
Poland	23%[71][80]	8% or 5% or 0%	PTU	Podatek od Towarów i Usług
Portugal	23%[81][82] 22% in Madeira and 18% in Azores[81][82]	13% for processed food, provision of services, and others such as oil and diesel, climate action focused goods and musical instruments and 6% for food products, agricultural services, and other deemed essential products such as farmaceutical products and public transport[83] 12% or 5% in Madeira and 9% or 4% in Azores[81][82]	IVA	Imposto sobre o Valor Acrescentado
Romania	19%[84]	9% (food and non-alcoholic drinks) or 5% (buyers of new homes under special conditions)	TVA	Taxa pe Valoarea Adăugată
Slovakia	20%[68]	10%	DPH	Daň z Pridanej Hodnoty
Slovenia	22%[85]	9.5%	DDV	Davek na Dodano Vrednost
Spain	21%[68] 7% in Canary Islands (not part of EU VAT area)	10% (10% from 1 September 2012[86]) or 4%[68][87] 3% or 0% in Canary Islands	IVA IGIC	Impuesto sobre el Valor Añadido Impuesto General Indirecto Canario
Sweden	25%[68]	12% (e.g. food, hotels and restaurants), 6% (e.g. books, passenger transport, cultural events and activities), 0% (e.g. insurance, financial services, health care, dental care, prescription drugs, immovable property)[88][89]	MOMS	Mervärdes- och OMSättningsskatt

Non-European Union countries

Country	Standard rate (current)	Reduced rate (current)	Local name
Albania[90]	20%	6% (accommodation services) or 0% (postal, medical, dental and welfare services)	TVSH = Tatimi mbi Vlerën e Shtuar
Algeria	19%	The reduced VAT rate in Algeria is currently 9%. It applies to basic goods and services such as food, medicine, and transportation.	?
Andorra[91]	4.5%	1%	IGI = Impost General Indirecte
Angola[92]	7%	5% which applies to the import and supply of certain goods (products of the Basic Basket listed in Annex I of the VAT Code and agricultural inputs)	?
Antigua and Barbuda	15%		?
Argentina	21%	10.5% or 0%	IVA = Impuesto al Valor Agregado
Armenia	20%	0%	AAH = Avelacvats Arzheqi Hark ԱԱՀ = Ավելացված արժեքի հարկ
Australia	10%	0% fresh food, medical services, medicines and medical devices, education services, childcare, water and sewerage, government taxes & permits and many government charges, precious metals, second-hand goods and many other types of goods. Rebates for exported goods and GST taxed business inputs are also available	GST = Goods and Services Tax
Azerbaijan	18%	10.5% or 0%	ƏDV = Əlavə dəyər vergisi
Bahamas[93][94]	12%	12% or 0% (including but not limited to exports of goods or services, services to a foreign going vessel providing international commercial services, consumable goods for commercially scheduled foreign going vessels/aircraft, copyright, etc.)	VAT = Value Added Tax
Bahrain	10%	0% (pharmacies and medical services, road transport, education service, Oil and gas derivatives, Vegetables and fruits, National exports)	(VAT) ضريبة القيمة المضافة
Bangladesh	15%	4% for supplier, 4.5% for ITES, 5% for electricity, 5.5% for construction firm, etc.	Musok = Mullo songzojon kor মূসক = "মূল্য সংযোজন কর"
Barbados	17.5%		VAT = Value Added Tax
Belarus	20%	10% or 0.5%	ПДВ = Падатак на дададзеную вартасьць
Belize	12.5%		?
Benin	18%		?
Bolivia	13%		IVA = Impuesto al Valor Agregado
Bosnia and Herzegovina	17%		PDV = Porez na dodanu vrijednost
Botswana	12%		?
Brazil	20% (IPI) + 19% (ICMS) average + 3% (ISS) average	0%	*IPI – 20% = Imposto sobre produtos industrializados (Tax over industrialized products) – Federal Tax ICMS – 17 to 25% = Imposto sobre circulação e serviços (tax over commercialization and services) – State Tax ISS – 2 to 5% = Imposto sobre serviço de qualquer natureza (tax over any service) – City tax
Burkina Faso	18%		?
Burundi	18%		?
Cambodia	10%		?
Cameroon	19.25%		?
Canada	5% GST + 0–9.975% PST or 13-15% HST depending on province.	0% [lower-alpha 1] on GST or HST for Prescription drugs, medical devices, basic groceries, agricultural/fishing products, exported or foreign goods, services and travel. Other exemptions exist for PSTs and vary by province.	GST = Goods and Services Tax HST[lower-alpha 2] = Harmonized Sales Tax PST = Provincial Sales Tax
Cape Verde	15%		?
Central African Republic	19%		?
Chad	18%		?
Chile	19%		IVA = Impuesto al Valor Agregado
China[lower-alpha 3]	13%	9% for foods, printed matter, and households fuels; 6% for service; or 3% for non-value-added tax	增值税 (zēng zhí shuì)
Colombia	19%		IVA = Impuesto al Valor Agregado
Costa Rica	13%		?
Democratic Republic of the Congo	16%		?
Dominica	15%		?
Dominican Republic	18%	12% or 0%	ITBIS = Impuesto sobre Transferencia de Bienes Industrializados y Servicios
Ecuador	12%	0%	IVA = Impuesto al Valor Agregado
Egypt	14% (15% on communication services)		VAT = Value Added Tax (الضريبة على القيمة المضافة)
El Salvador	13%		IVA = Impuesto al Valor Agregado o "Impuesto a la Transferencia de Bienes Muebles y a la Prestación de Servicios"
Equatorial Guinea	15%		?
Ethiopia	15%		VAT = Value Added Tax
Faroe Islands	25%		MVG = Meirvirðisgjald
Fiji	15%	0%	VAT = Value Added Tax
Gabon	18%		?
Gambia[95]	15%		VAT = Value Added Tax
Georgia	18%	0%	DGhG = Damatebuli Ghirebulebis gadasakhadi დღგ = დამატებული ღირებულების გადასახადი
Ghana	15%		VAT = Value Added Tax plus National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL; 2.5%)
Grenada	15%		?
Guatemala	12%		IVA = Impuesto al Valor Agregado
Guinea	18%		?
Guinea-Bissau	15%		?
Guyana	16%	0%	VAT = Value Added Tax
Haiti	10%		?
Honduras	15% (4% additional on tourism tax)[96]		ISV = Impuesto Sobre Ventas
Iceland	24%	11%[lower-alpha 4]	VSK, VASK = Virðisaukaskattur
India[lower-alpha 5]	5.5%	5.5%	VAT = Value Added Tax
Indonesia	11%	11%, 0% for primary groceries, medical services, financial services, education and also insurance	PPN = Pajak Pertambahan Nilai
Iran	9%		VAT = Value Added Tax (مالیات بر ارزش افزوده)
Isle of Man	20%		?
Israel[lower-alpha 6]	17%[lower-alpha 7] (0% in Eilat)	0% (fruits and vegetables, tourism services for foreign citizens, intellectual property, diamonds, flights and apartments renting)	Ma'am = מס ערך מוסף, מע"מ
Ivory Coast	18%		?
Jamaica	12.5%		?
Japan	10%	8% (groceries)	shōhizei (消費税) ("consumption tax")
Jersey[lower-alpha 8]	5%	0%	GST = Goods and Services Tax
Jordan	16%		GST = Goods and Sales Tax
Kazakhstan	12%		ҚCҚ = Қосылған құнға салынатын салық (Kazakh) VAT = Value Added Tax
Kenya	16%		?
Kyrgyzstan	20%		?
Laos	10%		?
Lebanon	11%		TVA = Taxe sur la valeur ajoutée
Lesotho	14%		?
Liechtenstein[98]	7.7%	3.8% (lodging services) or 2.5%	MWST = Mehrwertsteuer
Madagascar	20%		?
Malawi	16.5%		?
Malaysia[lower-alpha 9]	6%	0% for fresh foods, education, healthcare, land public transportation and medicines. Sales and Services Tax (SST) was reintroduced by the Malaysian Government on 1 September 2018 to replace the Goods and Services Tax (GST) which had only been introduced just over three years before that, on 1 April 2015.[100]	SST = Sales and Services Tax CJP = Cukai Jualan dan Perkhidmatan GST = Goods and Services Tax (Malaysia)
Maldives	6%	0%	GST = Goods and services tax (Government Tax)
Mali	18%		?
Mauritania	14%		?
Mauritius	15%		VAT = Value Added Tax
Mexico	16%	0% on books, food and medicines.	IVA = Impuesto al Valor Agregado
Moldova	20%	8%, 5% or 0%	TVA = Taxa pe Valoarea Adăugată
Monaco[101]	19.6%	5.6%	TVA = Taxe sur la valeur ajoutée
Mongolia	10%	0%	VAT = Нэмэгдсэн өртгийн албан татвар
Montenegro	21%	7%	PDV = Porez na dodatu vrijednost
Morocco	20%		TVA = Taxe sur Valeur Ajoutée (الضريبة على القيمة المضافة)
Mozambique	17%		?
Namibia	15%	0%	VAT = Value Added Tax
Nepal	13%	0%	VAT = Value Added Taxes
New Zealand	15%	0% (donated goods and services sold by non-profits, financial services, rental payments for residential properties, supply of fine metals, and penalty interest).[102]	GST = Goods and Services Tax
Nicaragua	15%		?
Niger	19%		?
Nigeria	7.5%		?
Niue	5%		?
North Macedonia	18%	5% or 0%	ДДВ = Данок на додадена вредност, DDV = Danok na dodadena vrednost
Norway	25%	15% (food), 12% (public transport, hotel, cinema) and 0% for electric cars (until 2018)[103]	MVA = Merverdiavgift (bokmål) or meirverdiavgift (nynorsk) (informally moms)
Pakistan	17%	1% or 0%	GST = General Sales Tax
Palau	10%[104]		PGST = Palau Goods & Services Tax
Palestine	16%		VAT = Value Added Tax
Panama	7%	0%	ITBMS = Impuesto de Transferencia de Bienes Muebles y Servicios
Papua New Guinea	10%		?
Paraguay	10%	5%	IVA= Impuesto al Valor Agregado
Peru	18%		IGV – 16% = Impuesto General a la Ventas IPM – 2% Impuesto de Promocion Municipal
Philippines	12%[lower-alpha 10]	6% on petroleum products, and electricity and water services 0% for senior citizens (all who are aged 60 and above) on medicines, professional fees for physicians, medical and dental services, transportation fares, admission fees charged by theaters and amusement centers, and funeral and burial services after the death of the senior citizen	RVAT = Reformed Value Added Tax, locally known as Karagdagang Buwis / Dungag nga Buhis
Republic of Congo	16%		?
Russia	20%	10% (essential food, goods for children and medical products)[106] or 0%	НДС = Налог на добавленную стоимость, NDS = Nalog na dobavlennuyu stoimost'
Rwanda	18%	0%	VAT = Value Added Tax
Saint Kitts and Nevis	17%		VAT = Value Added Tax
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	15%		?
Samoa	15%		?
Saudi Arabia	15%		ضريبة القيمة المضافة (VAT)
Senegal	18%		?
Serbia	20%[107]	10%[108] or 0%	ПДВ = Порез на додату вредност, PDV = Porez na dodatu vrednost
Seychelles	15%		?
Sierra Leone	15%		?
Singapore	8%	0% for public healthcare services, such as at public hospitals and polyclinics, with GST absorbed by the government.	GST = Goods and Services Tax
South Africa	15%	0% on basic foodstuffs such as bread, additionally on goods donated not for gain; goods or services used for educational purposes, such as school computers; membership contributions to an employee organization (such as labour union dues); and rent paid on a house by a renter to a landlord.[109]	VAT = Valued Added Tax; BTW = Belasting op toegevoegde waarde
South Korea	10%	0% (essential foodstuffs)	VAT = bugagachise (Korean: 부가가치세; Hanja: 附加價値稅)
Sri Lanka	12%	0%	VAT = Valued Added Tax has been in effect in Sri Lanka since 2001. On the 2001 budget, the rates have been revised to 12% and 0% from the previous 20%, 12% and 0%
Sudan	17%		?
Switzerland	7.7%[110]	3.7% (hotel sector) and 2.5% (essential foodstuff, books, newspapers, medical supplies)[110]	MWST = Mehrwertsteuer, TVA = Taxe sur la valeur ajoutée, IVA = Imposta sul valore aggiunto, TPV = Taglia sin la Plivalur
Taiwan	5%		營業稅 yíng yè shuì (business tax) / 加值型營業稅 jiā zhí xíng yíng yè shuì (value-added business tax)
Tajikistan	20%		?
Tanzania	18%		?
Thailand	10%	7%	VAT = Value Added Tax, ภาษีมูลค่าเพิ่ม
Togo	18%		?
Tonga	15%		?
Trinidad and Tobago	12.5%	0%	?
Tunisia	18%		TVA = Taxe sur la Valeur Ajoutée آداء على القيمة المضافة
Turkey	20%	10% or 1%	KDV = Katma değer vergisi
Turkmenistan	15%		?
Uganda	18%		?
Ukraine	20%	7% or 0%	ПДВ = Податок на додану вартість, PDV = Podatok na dodanu vartist'.
United Arab Emirates	5%		ضريبة القيمة المضافة
United Kingdom	20%[111] 0% in Guernsey and Gibraltar (not part of EU VAT area)	5% residential energy/insulation/renovations, feminine hygiene products, child safety seats and mobility aids and 0% for life necessities – basic food, water, prescription medications, medical equipment and medical supply, public transport, children's clothing, books and periodicals. Also 0% for new building construction (but standard rate for building demolition, modifications, renovation etc.)[112]	VAT TAW = Value Added Tax Treth Ar Werth (Welsh)
Uruguay	22%	18% or 0%	IVA = Impuesto al Valor Agregado
Uzbekistan	12%		QQS = Qoʻshilgan qiymat soligʻi
Vanuatu	13%		?
Vietnam	10%	5% or 0%	GTGT = Giá Trị Gia Tăng
Venezuela	12%	11%	IVA = Impuesto al Valor Agregado
Zambia	16%		?
Zimbabwe	15%		?

VAT-free countries and territories

As of January 2022, the countries and territories listed remained VAT-free.

Country[113]	Notes
Akrotiri and Dhekelia	British Overseas Territory
Anguilla	British Overseas Territory
Bermuda	British Overseas Territory
British Antarctic Territory	British Overseas Territory
British Indian Ocean Territory	British Overseas Territory
British Virgin Islands	British Overseas Territory
Brunei	—
Cayman Islands	British Overseas Territory
Cuba	—
Falkland Islands	British Overseas Territory
Gibraltar	British Overseas Territory
Guernsey	British Crown Dependency
Hong Kong	Special administrative region of China
Iraq	—
Kiribati	VAT
Libya	—
Macau	Special administrative region of China
Maldives	—
Marshall Islands	—
Micronesia	—
Montserrat	British Overseas Territory
Myanmar	—
Nauru	—
North Korea	—
Pitcairn Islands	British Overseas Territory
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha	British Overseas Territory
San Marino	—
Sao Tome and Principe	—
Solomon Islands	—
Somalia	—
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands	British Overseas Territory
South Sudan	18% VAT
Svalbard	—
Swaziland	—
Syria	Just recent tax of 14.85% (hotels) and 10% (restaurants)
Timor Leste	—
Turks and Caicos Islands	British Overseas Territory
Tuvalu	—
United States	Sales taxes are collected by most states and some cities, counties, and Native American reservations. The federal government collects excise tax on some goods, but does not collect a nationwide sales tax.
Vatican City	—
Yemen	—

Deadweight loss

The incidence of VAT may not fall entirely on consumers as traders tend to absorb VAT so as to maintain volumes of sales. Conversely, not all cuts in VAT are passed on in lower prices. VAT consequently leads to a deadweight loss if cutting prices pushes a business below the margin of profitability. The effect can be seen when VAT is cut or abolished. When VAT on restaurant meals in Sweden was reduced from 25% to 12.5%, 11,000 additional jobs were created.^[118]

Risk of fraud criticism

VAT offers distinctive opportunities for evasion and fraud, especially through abuse of the credit and refund mechanism.^[119] VAT overclaim is a risk for the state due to fraudulent claims for input repayment by registered traders and carousel fraud. There is leads to a VAT gap which can be up to 34% (in the case of Romania).^[120]

Churning

Because VAT is included in the price index to which state benefits such as pensions and welfare payments are linked, as well as public sector pay, some of the apparent revenue is churned i.e. taxpayers have to be given the money to pay the tax with, resulting in zero net revenue.^[121]

Cashflow impacts

Multiple VAT charges over the supply chain give rise to cashflow problems due to refund delays from the tax administration.^[14]

Compliance costs

Compliance costs for VAT are a heavy burden on business.^[122] In the UK, compliance costs for VAT have been estimated by Professor Cedric Sandford to be about 4% of the yield, though the figure is higher for smaller businesses.^[123]

Trade criticism

National VAT act as a tariff on imports and their exports are exempt from VAT (zero-rated).^[124]

Because exports are generally zero-rated (and VAT refunded or offset against other taxes), this is often where VAT fraud occurs. In Europe, the main source of problems is called carousel fraud.

This kind of fraud originated in the 1970s in the Benelux countries. Today, VAT fraud is a major problem in the UK.^[125] There are also similar fraud possibilities inside a country. To avoid this, in some countries like Sweden, the major owner of a limited company is personally responsible for taxes.^[124]

Under a sales tax system, only businesses selling to the end-user are required to collect tax and bear the accounting cost of collecting the tax. Under VAT, manufacturers and wholesale companies also incur accounting expenses to handle the additional paperwork required for collecting VAT, increasing overhead costs and prices.

Many politicians and economists in the United States consider value-added taxation on US goods and VAT rebates for goods from other countries to be unfair practice. For example, the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition claims that any rebates or special taxes on imported goods should not be allowed by the rules of the World Trade Organisation. AMTAC claims that so-called "border tax disadvantage" is the greatest contributing factor to the $5.8 trillion US current account deficit for the decade of the 2000s, and estimated this disadvantage to US producers and service providers to be $518 billion in 2008 alone. Some US politicians, such as congressman Bill Pascrell, are advocating either changing WTO rules relating to VAT or rebating VAT charged on US exporters by passing the Border Tax Equity Act.^[126] A business tax rebate for exports is also proposed in the 2016 GOP policy paper for tax reform.^[127][66] The assertion that this "border adjustment" would be compatible with the rules of the WTO is controversial; it was alleged that the proposed tax would favour domestically produced goods as they would be taxed less than imports, to a degree varying across sectors. For example, the wage component of the cost of domestically produced goods would not be taxed.^[128]

A 2021 study in the American Economic Journal found that value- added taxes are unlikely to distort trade flows.^[129]

Scholarly sources

• Saudi Arabia Increases Value Added Tax (VAT) will be increase to 15% from 5% as of July 2020.