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In economics, zero-rated supply refers to items subject to a 0% VAT tax on their input supplies. The term is applied to items that would normally be taxed under valued-added systems such as Europe's Value Added Tax (VAT) or Canada's Goods and Services Tax (GST). Examples of these items include most exports, basic groceries, and prescription drugs.
[5]: 98–99 Certain goods and services are required to be exempt from VAT (for example, postal services, medical care, lending, insurance, betting), [5]: 135 and certain other goods and services may be exempt from VAT ("zero rated") although individual EU member states may opt to charge VAT on those supplies (such as land and certain financial ...
VAT provides an incentive for businesses to register and keep invoices, and it does this in the form of zero-rated goods and VAT exemption on goods not resold. [13] Through registration, a business documents its purchases, making them eligible for a VAT credit.
The default VAT rate is the standard rate, 20% since 4 January 2011. Some goods and services are subject to VAT at a reduced rate of 5% (such as domestic fuel) or 0% (such as most food and children's clothing). [3] Others are exempt from VAT or outside the system altogether.
Map of the world showing national-level sales tax / VAT rates as of October 2019. A comparison of tax rates by countries is difficult and somewhat subjective, as tax laws in most countries are extremely complex and the tax burden falls differently on different groups in each country and sub-national unit.
Finally, some goods and services are "zero-rated". The zero-rate is a positive rate of tax calculated at 0%. Supplies subject to the zero-rate are still "taxable supplies", i.e. they have VAT charged on them. In the UK, examples include most food, books, drugs, and certain kinds of transport.
Ireland is the only EU country to have a zero tax rate on sanitary goods. [18] The rate predates legislation restricting zero-rating (a grandfather clause). [3] In Germany, the amount of tax on sanitary items was cut from 19% (the basic rate) to 7% (the reduced rate) as of January 1, 2020.
Value-added tax is an EU tax adopted by the member states of the European Union. However, an optional exception is allowed on low value shipments to member states in the form of an EU administrative VAT relief, known as Low Value Consignment Relief or LVCR. It is governed by the EU Council Directive 2009/132/EC. [1] [2] [3]