BM> The sooner we get a VAT the better.  Just about 
 BM> every significant modern
 BM> economy has a VAT.  The Libs did this country great damage by their 
 BM> inept handling of the GST and thereby making such a 
 BM> tax unlikely for the
 BM> next decade.  It will come, but what a lost opportunity.  Such a tax 
 BM> raises income efficiently from the "black" economy and is
virtually 
 BM> unavoidable.  Even drug dealers have to eat and buy 
 BM> clothes.  And a VAT 
 BM> actually makes it easier for the pollies to sell an increase in the 
 BM> level of VAT than to sell a hike on petrol excise for example.
 
In countries that have VATs, VAT evasion takes over from income
tax evasion as one of the major past times.
 
Add the massive increase in paperwork, the immediate hike in 
inflation, and that fact that it impacts more on the poor than the 
rich in terms of percentage of disposable income, and I'm far
from convinced that a VAT/GST is a good idea. 
 
I just want the government to go through the tax act like a dose
of salts and simplify the existing pattern. The legislation and rulings
associated with the FBT and superannuation are a major disgrace.
A newspaper reported that tax officers have from 1600 - 2000
discretionary powers.
 
The Fin. Review mentioned 6000 pages of legislation and rulings, 
and over 600 separate rulings put out in 94. No wonder 70% of
tax payers feel the need to use a tax agent.
 
LM.

--- Maximus/2 2.02