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DonCoquixote

(13,616 posts) Sat Jan 12, 2013, 10:18 PM Jan 2013

What is the VAT? [View all]

I heave heard this bandied about as a tax solution. From what i know, it involves adding a price to everything, making the taxes based on consumption.

My worry is, how does it not become regressive, making items like a loaf of bread harder to buy?

21 replies

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What is the VAT? [View all] DonCoquixote Jan 2013 OP

We are leaving for Ireland next month newfie11 Jan 2013 #1

Read up on it and keep your receipts if you go... Historic NY Jan 2013 #7

Thanks for the info newfie11 Jan 2013 #19

Value added tax malaise Jan 2013 #2

Value Added Tax. I don't like it. NYC_SKP Jan 2013 #3

It's really like a sales tax. The prime advantage it has is it is harder to avoid than a sales tax PoliticAverse Jan 2013 #4

It is Value Added Tax Yo_Mama Jan 2013 #5

It's inherently regressive. nt NashvilleLefty Jan 2013 #6

It's like a sales tax. It's popular in Europe Recursion Jan 2013 #8

Items on European websites are a LOT cheaper than they look because cthulu2016 Jan 2013 #12

starts original manufacture Old Codger Jan 2013 #9

The place they mix the BEER! nt Speck Tater Jan 2013 #10

Vear and tear dipsydoodle Jan 2013 #11

OK..my main concern is DonCoquixote Jan 2013 #13

Europe is big on VAT JVS Jan 2013 #15

VAT is government heroin DFW Jan 2013 #16

It's sales tax JVS Jan 2013 #14

I could easily imagine the border areas DonCoquixote Jan 2013 #17

Canada already has worse prices than us, they come here to shop. JVS Jan 2013 #18

dipsydoodle did point out that countries can give classes of goods exemptions muriel_volestrangler Jan 2013 #20

It is used in countries where tax evasion is a national sport since it can be collected. FarCenter Jan 2013 #21