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Does the VAT charge apply to items shipped to other countries as well? I have seen a few things in European catalogs that I like and do not understand how VAT may apply to an American buyer.



The VAT is basically a sales tax that is added on to the cost of goods in countries that have it. It is often hidden in the price so that the consumer doesn't know he's paying it. In order to promote exports it is almost always rebated to exporters from countries that have the VAT and added to goods imported to those same countries. Politicians love it because they can often hide the amount they are charging consumers. It can also vary between various types of goods giving them the opportunity to dole out benefits to favored industries.

We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.