A Vat Primer for Lawyers, Economists, and Accountants
Posted: 15 Aug 2009
Date Written: August 17, 2009
Abstract
Sijbren Cnossen is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Maastricht, The Netherlands, and adviser of CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis. He has held appointments in tax law and economics at Erasmus University Rotterdam, Harvard University, New York University, and College of Europe (Bruges). He previously served with the IMF and the Dutch tax service. He has advised many countries on the design of their tax systems and written widely on the economic effects of taxation.
This report examines the nature and workings of the VAT by comparing it with other broad-based consumption taxes. It discusses the different forms of consumption taxes and how they are perceived by tax professionals. The report also sums up the experiences of other countries with the VAT, recommending that the United States use that information if it decides to adopt a VAT.
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