Sorry, technically incomplete statement. I assumed we were not speaking of
all taxes, assuming income and other taxes existed also.
This is a consumption tax, recently implemented for us (2000?) - its
Federally imposed and collected, all fed back to the states. We used to have
a patchwork of 'sales taxes' at different rates on different types of
products (eg 0 on 'food', various on 'confectionery', 0 on books and tools
at one time, then from 5 to 20%), but never on service or labour. Nightmare
to administer,and many tried all sorts of dodges to collect , but not pay,
so a GST or VAT is much simpler to administer. Businesses which make
something charge GST on their sales to consumers (or middlemen), and offset
GST they pay to their suppliers for inputs against GST collected, pay
difference to IRS. Only charitable orgs, hospitals are exempt from paying it
because they don't collect any GST from their customers, so have nothing to
offset against. Services now also charge GST on labour, so the plan is this
will reduce the black or cash economy, which seems to be working as the take
from the tax is enormous for an economy our size.

Local govt also imposes real estate taxes ('rates') to fund themselves, and
state govt has 'stamp duties' on registering sales, mortgages etc, and all
the usual fees.

Probably more info than you wanted...

Jp, Oz

-----Original Message-----
From: John Lee [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Wednesday, 22 June 2005 1:11 AM
To: john pitman
Subject: RE: [HP3000-L] OT: tax fact

Is there an income tax, too, John?  How about real estate tax?  Or is it 
strictly a consumption tax?


At 09:04 AM 6/21/05 +1000, you wrote:
>Down here (in Oz) we pay 10% on EVERYTHING except food, education,
>medicine...
>jp
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: HP-3000 Systems Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
>Of John Lee
>Sent: Tuesday, 21 June 2005 4:30 AM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: [HP3000-L] OT: tax fact
>
>I'm just paying the phone bill...$21.92 (71%) for service, $8.88 (29%) in
>taxes and fees...total bill $30.80.  I've noticed my electric utility bill
>has a pretty consistent $20/mo in fees also, representing about 20% of the
>total.  I just have to get it off my chest.  Thanks for reading this
>:)  What are others paying?
>
>John Lee
>
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