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Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Katelew who wrote (134482)	3/23/2010 9:30:14 PM
From: Dale Baker	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 542936

I'm pretty sure that local sales taxes are unusual in Europe. I can't remember ever seeing one anywhere I lived; at the same time, the price on an item is what you pay at the register so all taxes are folded into that, not itemized on the slip. The buyer doesn't see all the messy tax details.

To: Katelew who wrote (134482)	3/23/2010 9:52:54 PM
From: KyrosL	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 542936

No local sales taxes in Europe. Just a national VAT which is close to 20% in most EU countries for most goods. Some goods such as store bought food have a lower rate. The EU requires that most goods have at least a 15% rate and no goods can have a rate less than 5%. The EU budget is financed by a percentage of the VAT. I think VAT and very high gasoline taxes along with hefty social security/health care withholdings from wages make lower income Europeans much more heavily taxed than lower income Americans. They are really contributing to their welfare state.