Understanding VAT and GST

More than 160 countries apply value added tax (VAT); we examine what VAT means and how it is charged.

VAT simply means a value added tax. In Australia, the goods and services tax (GST) is a VAT of 10% on most goods and services sales. Further, VAT tax is a consumption tax that’s collected incrementally, based on the increase, or “value added,” to the price of each good or service. More than 160 countries charge VAT or GST.

VAT or sales tax?

The key point of difference in VAT charges (or the aforementioned GST charges as they’re known in Australia), is that it is not a sales tax. Sales taxes are charged to consumers only, where VAT is charged to each person involved in the production and ultimate sale of a good or service.

Consider the manufacture and sale of the following item, which we’ll call a rod.

With 10 percent sales tax:

Manufacturer spends $1 to purchase the raw materials, certifying to the vendor that he is not the end customer, and uses them to make the rod
The manufacturer charges a retailer $1.20, checking that the retailer is not the final customer either, leaving a gross margin of $0.20
The retailer charges a customer $1.65 ($1.50 x 10%) and pays the government $0.15, leaving a gross margin of $0.30.

With 10 percent VAT

The manufacturer spends $1.10 ($1 x 10%) for the raw materials, and the seller of the raw materials pays the government $0.10
The manufacturer charges the retailer $1.32 ($1.20 x 10%) and pays the government $0.02 ($0.12 – $0.10), leaving the same gross margin of $0.20
The retailer charges the consumer $1.65 ($1.50 x 10%) and pays the government $0.03 ($0.15 – $0.12), leaving the same gross margin of $0.30.

With VAT, the consumer has paid and the government received the same amount of as it would have with a sales tax. The difference is that, rather than having to certify that each person (the manufacturer, the retailer, etc) is not the final customer, each person in the production process collects the VAT to pass onto the government instead.

The downside here is that it results in increased accounting costs — wholesale companies now have to hire and pay accounting staff to handle the VAT paperwork, which they wouldn’t if sales tax was being collected instead.

VAT in other countries

The United Kingdom, South Africa, and Ireland have each instituted VAT charges, though as with the rest of the world, the rates differ in each country; in Canada it’s called GST.

The U.K.

Implemented VAT in 1973, the third-largest source of government revenue after income tax and the national insurance, at a rate of 10 percent. Over the years, it’s been increased and decreased, ultimately settling at three rates of VAT — standard (20%), reduced (5%) and zero (0%), while some items are exempt or sit outside the VAT system.

The standard rate covers most goods and services provided by U.K. registered businesses, while there are complex rules and guidelines for good and services imported from within the European Union — which is obviously subject to change due to Brexit.

South Africa

Introduced VAT in 1991 at a rate of 10 percent. In 1993, it was increased to 14 percent, where it remained until finance minister Malusi Gigaba announced it would be increased by 1 percent to 15 percent, effective April 1, 2018. Some basic foodstuffs and paraffin are exempt from VAT.

Ireland

Adopted VAT in 1971, in preparation of joining the European Economic Community (which would later become the European Union). Remember, we’re talking about southern Ireland (the Republic of Ireland), not northern Ireland, which is still part of Britain. European Union (EU) member states must charge a minimum of 15 percent VAT, but no more than 25 percent. Ireland’s current standard VAT rate is 23 percent, about the average for EU members. Some exemptions and discounts apply.

Canada

Implemented its goods and services tax (GST) in 1991 at a rate of 7 percent, which was ultimately decreased to 5 percent, the rate at which it remains. Some provinces collect both GST and a harmonized sales tax (HST), which combines GST with a provincial sales tax (PST). Provinces collecting HST rather than GST include: New Brunswick (15%), Newfoundland (15%), Nova Scotia (15%), Ontario (13%), Prince Edward (15%) and Quebec (14.75%). British Columbia, which charged HST (12%) until 2013, reverted to GST (5%) plus PST (7%). Advertised prices in Canada excluded taxes, which are calculated at time of purchase.