Comparing the value-added tax to the retail sales tax.

• Author: Cabaltica, Benedict C.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Over the past few decades, the value-added tax (VAT) has become the fastest-growing indirect tax globally (see Schenk and Oldman, Value Added Tax: A Comparative Approach 1 (Cambridge University Press 2007)). With the exception of the United States, most countries' fiscal authorities rely far more heavily on VAT than on any other taxes for revenue. With the pace of globalization accelerating, multinational businesses increasingly seek advice on VAT and other indirect taxes, which may constitute a large percentage of their aggregate tax liability. A recent KPMG International study shows that two-thirds of multinational companies are concerned about the complexity of VAT, and 55% are worried about their VAT compliance obligations (see "Indirect Tax Increasingly Important for Global Businesses" (May 20, 2008), available at www.kpmg.com/Global/PressRoom/PressReleases/ Pages/Indirecttaxincreasingly.aspx).

The United States is the only member of the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development that does not levy a VAT on a national level; however, VAT has become widely recognized as an important option in federal tax reform debates.

In January 2005, President Bush established the bipartisan President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform to present options to reform the Internal Revenue Code to make it simpler and more pro-growth. In November 2005, the panel issued its report, which included analysis of a VAT that could potentially replace a portion of both individual and corporate income taxes (President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform, Simple, Fair, and Pro-Growth: Proposals to Fix America's Tax System, 191-92 (November 1, 2005), available at www.taxreformpanel.gov/final-report/). Although the panel did not ultimately recommend the VAT proposal, it evaluated and analyzed the proposal extensively (President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform at 191-205).

In April 2008, at the request of the House Ways and Means Committee, the Government Accountability Office issued a report that examined the VAT imposed in Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom and described VAT compliance costs, administration, and implementation (U.S. Government Accountability Office, Value-Added Taxes: Lessons Learned from Other Countries on Compliance Risks, Administrative Costs, Compliance Burden, and Transition, GAO-08566 (April 2008)).

A number of bills have also been introduced in the current session of Congress that, if enacted, would levy some type of VAT to replace all or part of the current federal income tax system, including a bill proposing to levy a VAT for national health insurance (see, e.g., H.R. 25 and S. 1025, Fair Tax Act of 2007; H.R. 1040, To Amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to Provide Taxpayers a Flat Tax Alternative to the Current Income Tax System; S. 1111, Fair Flat Tax Act of 2007; S. 1040, Tax Simplification Act of 2007; H.R. 5105 and S. 2547, Fair and Simple Tax Act of 2008; H.R. 4159, Simplified USA Tax Act of 2007; S. 1081, Flat Tax Act of 2007; and H.R. 15, National Health Insurance Act). Despite these numerous proposals, the U.S. government has given no indication that it will soon move to a VAT system.

Most U.S. taxpayers are unfamiliar with VAT. On the state and local level, only New Hampshire, with its business enterprise tax, currently imposes a V AT-type tax. That tax is assessed on the enterprise value tax base, which is the sum of all compensation paid or accrued, interest paid or accrued, and dividends paid by the business enterprise, after special adjustments and apportionment (see www.nh.gov/revenue/faq/dra_2400.htm). Until January 1, 2008, Michigan also used a value-added type tax called the single business tax.

What is well known in the United States is the general sales and use tax or retail sales tax currently imposed by all states and the District of Columbia, with the exception of Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon.

This column explores the similarities and differences between the VAT and retail sales tax systems. To set the groundwork for this comparison, it will first analyze the typical VAT system.

Overview of VAT

More than 130 countries use VAT as a key source of government revenue (Schenk and Oldman at 459-62). VAT is a general, broad-based consumption tax assessed on the value added to goods and services. VAT is generally levied on value added at every stage of production, with a mechanism allowing the sellers a credit for the tax they have paid on their own purchases of goods and services (input tax) against the taxes collected on their sales of goods and service (output tax). Generally, VAT is:

* A general tax that applies to all commercial activities involving the production and distribution of goods and the provision of services;

* A consumption tax ultimately borne by the consumer;

* An indirect tax levied on the consumer as part of the price of goods or services;

* A multistage tax visible at each stage of the production and distribution chain; and

* A fractionally collected tax that uses a system of partial payments whereby a seller charges VAT on all of its sales with a corresponding claim of credit...