Value added tax and excises

AUTHORS: Ian Crawford ; Stephen Smith
COMMENTATORS: Ian Dickson ; David White

This chapter will cover indirect taxation and the discussion of VAT versus expenditure tax versus GST. It will consider a number of key questions: Should the VAT base be broadened? Should VAT rates be uniform across goods more generally? The issues raised by new technologies, the internet and services will also be addressed. It will cover financial institutions and insurance as part of the VAT base. The chapter will assess whether the structure of VAT in the UK has improved and whether there is a rationale for extensive zero-rating. It will evaluate the 6th Directive and compare it to the New Zealand model. It will examine the pros and cons of harmonization and examine coordination issues within the EU and the likely prospects for other options (CVAT, VIVAT etc). In terms of current issues it will focus on the nature and extent of VAT fraud as well as the treatment of international services and financial institutions. Concluding with an assessment of the future for the VAT and different forms of VAT as, in part, forms of corporate income tax.

Related papers and presentations

PLEASE NOTE: presentations from the September meeting represent draft work in progress. Factual accuracy is not guaranteed, and opinions may not be the fully-formed views of authors. They are posted here to stimulate discussion, and should not be quoted or cited without the authors' permission.

VAT and excises
Stephen Smith
30 Aug 2007 , Presentations

Commentary: VAT and excises
Ian Dickson and David White
This presentation was delivered at the IFS Residential Conference 2007.
24 Apr 2007 , Presentations

Indirect tax design
Ian Crawford, Michael Keen and Stephen Smith
This draft paper forms part of the Mirrlees Review and was presented at the IFS Residential Conference 2007.
20 Apr 2007 , Conference Papers

VAT and Excises
Ian Crawford, Michael Keen and Stephen Smith
This presentation was delivered at the IFS Residential Conference 2007.
20 Apr 2007 , Presentations

Indirect taxes
Ian Crawford, Michael Keen and Stephen Smith
26 Oct 2006 , Presentations

The Review is funded by the Nuffield Foundation and the ESRC.