Re: Tax Reform
VAT is a type of sales tax, but not the kind we have in the U.S. VAT taxes are a tremendous regulatory burden...trust me you won't put any CPA's out of work...H&R Blocks maybe. Administration of a VAT would require a beaurocracy at least as cumbersome as the IRS we have now.<br /><br />Sales taxes are generally thought of as "regressive", since the more money you have, the less you have to spend. But there are ways to even that out, such as the example bekosh sited. Everybody gets to spend $xxxx.xx per year before they have to start paying tax. Well, they have to pay it, since the sellers will have to collect it because they won't know who's above the limit. <br /><br />Then get a refund. How will they get a refund? File some kind of form and wait for a check? Sound familiar? It might ease enforcement somewhat...until the smart ones figure out how to work the system.<br /><br />What exactly are the benefits of sales tax over income tax? <br />Compliance, collection, enforcement?<br />Fairness?<br />Are you wanting to shift the tax burden? In which direction?<br /><br />BTW, we have Federal Sales Tax already, only they're called "Federal Excise Taxes" - not all are based on sales (example Heavy Vehicle Road Use Tax). Most are levied at the wholesale level (fuels, tires, batteries, cigarettes), some at retail (air travel, phone service).