This is the Executive Summary of an evaluation for the European Commission of the consequences, in economic terms, of the functioning of the most pertinent elements of the current EU VAT system.
The Executive Summary contains the main findings of the full report. Exemptions are found to be a particularly problematic feature of the existing VAT system, distorting firm's decisions, reducing the international competitiveness of EU industries, and costing significant amounts of revenue. A proliferation of reduced and even zero VAT rates is also problematic, increasing complexity and administration and compliance costs, despite being poorly suited for the tasks to which they are put, such as redistributing from rich to poor. A complex VAT system is also found to cause difficulties for firms wanting to trade across borders, and means compliance is costly, particularly for smaller firms.
Authors
![Stuart Adam](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2022-06/Stuart_Adam.jpg?itok=WhMGYiwy)
Senior Economist
Stuart is a Senior Economist working in the Tax sector, and focuses on analysing the design of the tax and benefit system.
![Person graphic](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2022-06/IFS-person-graphic.png?itok=hWCtTSrz)
Stephen Smith
![David Phillips](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2022-06/David_Phillips.jpg?itok=wr3uc1L2)
Associate Director
David is Head of Devolved and Local Government Finance. He also works on tax in developing countries as part of our TaxDev centre.
Report details
- Publisher
- European Commission
Suggested citation
S, Adam and D, Phillips and S, Smith. (2011). A retrospective evaluation of the elements of the VAT system: executive summary. Brussels: European Commission. Available at: https://ifs.org.uk/publications/retrospective-evaluation-elements-vat-system-executive-summary (accessed: 30 June 2024).
Related documents
More from IFS
Understand this issue
![Microphone](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2024-06/Microphone.jpg?itok=soM7Wvbz)
Election Special: Your questions answered
27 June 2024
![Interview](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2024-06/1.jpg?itok=mjderngL)
Election Special: The big issues politicians haven't spoken about
25 June 2024
![Kier Starmer](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2024-06/Lab1.jpg?itok=43eIsvgM)
Election Special: The Labour manifesto explained
14 June 2024
Policy analysis
![Polling station](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2024-06/Polling-station-school.jpg?itok=uS-l6b-1)
What are the parties’ plans for benefits and taxes?
24 June 2024
![Welsh town with mountains behind](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2024-06/Welsh-town-feature.jpg?itok=5axb5wZn)
How would the parties’ tax and spending plans affect Scotland and Wales?
28 June 2024
![Shopping street](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2024-06/Street-scene-.jpg?itok=R39cR6Xp)
How do the last five years measure up on levelling up?
19 June 2024
Academic research
![Fiscal Studies - 2024 - June cover](/sites/default/files/styles/portrait/public/2024-06/Fiscal%20Studies%20-%202024%20-%20-%20June%20cover.jpg?itok=mQEwRc_w)
Income inequality in Ireland, 1987–2019
28 June 2024
![Fiscal Studies - 2024 - June cover](/sites/default/files/styles/portrait/public/2024-06/Fiscal%20Studies%20-%202024%20-%20-%20June%20cover.jpg?itok=mQEwRc_w)
Components of the evolution of income inequality in Sweden, 1990–2021
28 June 2024
![Working Paper Cover](/sites/default/files/styles/portrait/public/2024-06/WP202425-The-intergenerational-elasticity-of-earnings-exploring-the-mechanisms_Page_01.jpg?itok=BhqlYpqX)
The intergenerational elasticity of earnings: Exploring the mechanisms
3 June 2024