VAT on food

[AtW]

The Swiss could make a killing by fixing their VAT at EU VAT – 1 percentage point, as could the Turks and many others.

Turkey and Switzerland are outside of EU for VAT purposes surely?

[DodgyAgent]

There should be one rate of VAT on all items across Europe.

No countries should be free to tax how they like. If Europe is going to have flexible labour markets and attract business then countries should be free to compete. This stops them being complacement and they will understand that the quid pro quo of inefficient government is that business and jobs will go to the most efficient economies.

[Mich the Tester]

Turkey and Switzerland are outside of EU for VAT purposes surely?

They're outside the EU full stop.

[Mich the Tester]

No countries should be free to tax how they like. If Europe is going to have flexible labour markets and attract business then countries should be free to compete. This stops them being complacement and they will understand that the quid pro quo of inefficient government is that business and jobs will go to the most efficient economies.

whs + a lot

[AtW]

No countries should be free to tax how they like.

I am in agreement with you!

Next time consider that proper punctuation can actually be helpful to convey the meaning you intended.

[AtW]

They're outside the EU full stop.

In which case their VAT levels are irrelevant as if you buy stuff from abroad you are supposed to pay VAT on it.

[Moscow Mule]

They're outside the EU full stop.

Isn't Switzerland in the free trade area?

[Mich the Tester]

In which case their VAT levels are irrelevant as if you buy stuff from abroad you are supposed to pay VAT on it.

Irrelevant, except for the long land borders that make smuggling v easy indeed.

[Mich the Tester]

Isn't Switzerland in the free trade area?

Yep, it's in the European Free Trade Area, but they can set their taxes as they like.

[AtW]

Irrelevant, except for the long land borders that make smuggling v easy indeed.

Smugglers take chances and won't do it for small %-tage, I'd say risk factors would demand at least 5-10% premium, it's the cross border legit trade that's the issue - high UK taxes on booze/smokes create anomaly of people going to France to buy those items. It's total bollox and can only be solved by having unified tax system.