Number: RL33438
Title: A Value-Added Tax Contrasted With a National Sales Tax
Authors: James M. Bickley, Government and Finance Division 
Abstract: By executive order, President Bush established the President's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform. In November 2005, this panel issued its final report that included analyses of both a national sales tax (NST) and a value-added tax (VAT). In Congress, both a value-added tax and a national sales tax have been proposed by Members in the tax-reform debate as replacement taxes for part or all of the nation's current income tax system. In addition, there is congressional interest in using a consumption tax to finance national health care. Both the VAT and the NST are taxes on the consumption of goods and services and are conceptually similar. Yet, these taxes also have significant differences. This report discusses some of the potential policy implications associated with these differences.
Pages: 7
Date: February 1, 2008