## A U.S. Value-Added Tax: A Review of the Issues

_IMF Policy Discussion Papers, June 1, 1995_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [A U.S. Value-Added Tax: A Review of the Issues](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/imf-policy-discussion-papers/issues/2016/12/30/a-u-s-1517)

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## Bibliographic details
- Authors: Christopher M Towe, Saurin Shah
- Published: June 1, 1995
- Series: IMF Policy Discussion Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451970739.003

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### Overview
- Paper reviews issues related to the introduction of a value-added tax in the United States.
- Distinguishes between:
  - European-styled value-added taxes that are levied similarly to sales taxes.
  - Value-added taxes that are levied through the business and personal income tax systems.
- Discusses the costs and benefits of such taxes, including their potential yield.

### Major themes and analytical focus
- Tax design variants:
  - Comparison of European-styled VAT (sales-tax-like) versus VAT implemented through business and personal income tax systems.
- Economic assessment:
  - Examination of costs and benefits associated with introducing a VAT in the United States.
  - Consideration of VAT yield potential (discussed qualitatively in the paper).
- Tax administration and measurement:
  - Engagement with issues relevant to VAT base, VAT evasion, VAT revenue, and VAT system design (keywords indicate coverage).

### Subjects and keywords
- Subject: Consumption taxes, Income and capital gains taxes, Income tax systems, National accounts, Personal income, Taxes, Value-added tax
- Keywords: Consumption taxes, cost, credit-invoice VAT, Income and capital gains taxes, Income tax systems, PDP, Personal income, rate, tax, Value-added tax, VAT base, VAT evasion, VAT revenue, VAT system, VAT yield, VAT-style tax, yield

### Access and related notes
- Classified under: IMF Policy Discussion Papers
- Notes: Reviews issues related to the introduction of a value-added tax in the United States.
- eLibrary: Visit the IMF eLibrary for available formats.

*Source: A U.S. Value-Added Tax: A Review of the Issues, Christopher M Towe and Saurin Shah, IMF Policy Discussion Papers, June 1, 1995.*

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/imf-policy-discussion-papers/issues/2016/12/30/a-u-s-1517_