§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the rate of VAT or comparable tax for each of the countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. [33339]
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryThe standard rates of VAT in the member countries of the OECD which apply VAT are set out in the table.
Rates of VAT in OECD member countries Country Standard rate (per cent.) Austria 20 Belgium 21 Canada 7 Czech Republic 22 Denmark 25 Finland 22 France 20.6 Germany 15 Greece 18 Iceland 24.5 Ireland 21 Italy 19 Japan 3 Luxembourg 15 Mexico 15 Netherlands 17.5 New Zealand 12.5 Norway 23 Portugal 17 Spain 16 Sweden 25 Switzerland 6.5 Turkey 15 United Kingdom 17.5 The two remaining member countries of the OECD, Australia and the United States, do not have VAT. Australia levies a wholesale tax, WST, on certain Australian manufactured goods and certain imported goods. A wide range of goods are exempt from WST, and those which are taxable are subject to different rates. The majority of goods are taxable at the rate of 22 per cent., although there are also rates of 12 per cent. and 32 per cent. In the United States, the majority of states impose a retail sales tax, RST, which 463W generally applies to sales of goods to final consumers within the state's jurisdiction. Rates of RST vary according to the state concerned.