Coordinating federal and provincial sales taxes: Lessons from the Canadian experience

RM Bird, JM Mintz, TA Wilson - National Tax Journal, 2006 - journals.uchicago.edu
RM Bird, JM Mintz, TA Wilson
National Tax Journal, 2006journals.uchicago.edu
Canada has operated both a federal value-added tax (the GST) and two variants of
provincial VATsfor the last 15 years. In addition, several provinces have continued to
operate retail sales taxes similar to those in most US states. A brief review of experience
around the world with" two-level" sales taxes indicates that Canadian experience is the most
relevant international experience for the US to consider. We conclude that the Canadian
case suggests that the introduction of a federal VAT in the US would not create any great …
Canada has operated both a federal value-added tax (the GST) and two variants of provincial VATsfor the last 15 years. In addition, several provinces have continued to operate retail sales taxes similar to those in most US states. A brief review of experience around the world with "two-level" sales taxes indicates that Canadian experience is the most relevant international experience for the US to consider. We conclude that the Canadian case suggests that the introduction of a federal VAT in the US would not create any great technical problems for either the states or business.
The University of Chicago Press