The VAT

The Swiss Initiative for a basic income has an example picture for the VAT or consumer tax. The Latte Macchiato view.


https://www.grundeinkommen.ch/wp-content/uploads/Grundeinkommen-Die-Latte-Macchiato-These11-1-900x606.jpg


When we transfer our tax system from income tax to value added tax (VAT) as a whole, all hidden (income) taxes will become visible for the consumer in a VAT on the receipt. But more. Not work will be taxed, which is demotivating to work, but the acquisition of goods. - This make sense, because as long as a product is not ready to be sold, there should be no taxation.


The main reason, why we in a community pay taxes, should be to collect the money for a unconditional basic income. This should be the main reason, why we have a community or society at all: to enable all people in the community to live in dignity. - All other expenditures should be a subordinated reason for a society to pay taxes.


When companies gain more value out of there projects, because they release workers and replace them with tech, then they have more profit from their production. But the idea is, that all people should benefit from this development in a society.


A flexible VAT can use different taxation of product groups with lower taxation for necessary goods for basic needs and higher taxation for luxurious goods. But it can also contribute to get a portion of the extra profit, business owners have with tech implementation.

The idea is, the society implements a VAT and the entrepreneur has the choice, either to lower his own profit rate to keep the price stable or to put the VAT on top of his price, which makes his product more expensive.


When he do the second, another businessmen will lower his own share of the sale and will have more costumers.


A wealth tax would mean to force someone to pay something. A VAT is the idea, that the market will solve the problem.