But those things which do not carry VAT at all are things from when the VAT system was started.

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The world's two largest democracies, India and the United States, happen to be among the few countries in the world that do not have a VAT system.

BBC: NEWS | South Asia | Fierce divisions on India's VAT

Under the proposed VAT system, only two rates of 4% and 12.5% will be imposed on most of the products on which various kinds of sales taxes are levied at present.

BBC: NEWS | South Asia | Fierce divisions on India's VAT

Ultimately, she tells FORBES, she pines for a VAT-type system.

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In the UK, given the tax system, this would mean increasing VAT (a nice regressive tax) and then, say, abolishing the 50 p additional tax rate on higher earners.

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