Comparing the Value-Added Tax to the Retail Sales Tax
RichardF Dye ,Thense MeGuine
Joumal of Public Economics
Apnl2011
Overviewof VAT
More than 130 countries use VAT as akey source of govemment revenue VAT is
aa 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)