Indirect Taxation: Structure, Impact, and Global Trends
Indirect taxes—like VAT, GST, and excise duties—are the silent workhorses of public finance, embedded in nearly every purchase we make. Unlike income taxes, they’re collected through intermediaries and passed on to consumers, making them efficient but often regressive. Countries worldwide rely on these taxes to fund services, shape behavior (think “sin taxes”), and adapt to the digital economy, where taxing streaming platforms and cross-border e-commerce presents new hurdles. As systems modernize with e-invoicing and real-time reporting, indirect taxation is becoming smarter and more transparent—yet its impact on equity and inflation remains a delicate balancing act.… Read more