US Federal VAT Consumption Sales Tax

[August1991]

The United States is the only civilised country without a federal consumption tax.

Given your federal debt/GDP ratio, your federal government needs more money. Make no mistake: You will have this tax soon. 

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In Canada, we chose to make the tax visible (GST). In Europe, it's part of the price (VAT). 

 

[August1991]

If I have a suggestion to Americans (the IRS), it is this:

-apply your federal sales tax to everything, no exception (In Canada,  our Supreme Court decided how to tax donuts. You don't want to know.) 

-let State tax collectors collect federal money (in Canada, Quebec collects the federal GST: fewer tax collectors, fewer tax points)

-put the tax inside the price (let sellers decide how to announce the price)

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Make no mistake: the US federal government (likely Biden/Democrats) are soon to impose a US federal VAT.

Edited September 15, 2022 by August1991

[robosmith]

Too regressive to tax FOOD/Medicine. Slap a luxury tax on yachts and private aircraft..

[Rebound]

Consumption taxes themselves are regressive. It’s great for the wealthy.  We’ve had a progressive taxation system and we should keep it. 

[TreeBeard]

4 hours ago, Rebound said:

Consumption taxes themselves are regressive. It’s great for the wealthy.  We’ve had a progressive taxation system and we should keep it. 

Yes.  I would have preferred income tax increases to those who could afford it in Canada, rather than have poorer people having to pay GST and then creating a bureaucracy to issue GST rebate cheques.  

Edited September 16, 2022 by TreeBeard

[herbie]

Well if any country could USE a federal VAT/GST, it's the USA.

And NO - the entire point of a GST is to tax consumption, instead of income. Poor people buy less. the rich buy more things and more expensive ones. They carry the burden, the rebates are only needed for the butt-poor.

It's the perfect conservative solution to increasing revenue

[Aristides]

The US will need a national VAT if they are ever going to balance another budget. Won't matter which party is in power.