VAT
VAT is a tax on consumer spending. It is collected by VAT-registered traders on their supplies of goods and services effected within the State, for consideration, to their customers. Generally, each such trader in the chain of supply from manufacturer through to retailer charges VAT on his or her sales* and is entitled to deduct from this amount the VAT paid on his or her purchases.
[*In some circumstances, particularly in the construction industry, VAT is not charged by the supplier, but instead the customer simply accounts for the VAT as if it had been charged.]
The effect of offsetting VAT on purchases against VAT on sales is to impose the tax on the added value at each stage of production – hence Value-Added Tax. For the final consumer, not being VAT-registered, VAT simply forms part of the purchase price.
- Scrap Metal Scheme
- EU VAT Issues
- To Continue this Brief Introduction to VAT
For a More Detailed Description of VAT click here for Chapter 1 of the VAT Guide 2008
Tax & Duty Manuals - Section 16 FOI Act