The real problem with the EU is whose in control.

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The tradition and practice has always been about supporting the government of the day, not the opposition, not some fringe party, not some dissenters, but the government of the day.
We’re co-ordinated and managed by the Prime Minister, in his role as Minister for the Civil Service.

You seem to forget that many Brexit supporters are in fact government ministers too.
 
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the Government’s clear recommendation is that the United Kingdom should remain a member of a reformed EU.
Of course it is, because the leadership of both of the major parties is committed to remaining within the EU at any cost. The idea that the EU can be reformed (at least to the extent of the considerable reforms which would be needed to make it acceptable) is laughable, as it's been shown time and again that it won't change to any significant degree. It can't even balance its accounts, for crying out loud.......
 
Ask yourself one very simple question: Is there any field which is an "EU competence" (in its own phrasing), in which the regulations are not now more restrictive than at any time in the past?
Oh, here we go, off down another avenue of your misinterpretation and misrepresentation.:rolleyes:
What is being misrepresented? Let's see some examples of areas in which EU regulations have not gradually become more encompassing and more controlling then.

Stop being so obtuse and sullenly obstinate. Your denial and refusal does not and will not change facts.
Then let's see something in black and white which says that having been presented with a request from the European Parliament the Commission is required to honor the request, and to do so within a reasonable period of time (or within any specified period of time).
 
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Additionally, I don't care how US conducts their tax system. It's not relevant to this discussion.
Again, how very convenient to dismiss it as being irrelevant, just because it shows quite clearly that it's entirely possible to have varying systems within a single country, never mind across different nations.

Why don't you provide examples, and comparisons on the amount of administrative savings compared to any extra burden created?
It's really quite simple. At one time if you were sending goods outside the U.K. you did not have to charge VAT on them. Now, if you're exporting to the EU you have to charge VAT at the applicable U.K. rate, and you have to keep separate figures for total sales to every separate EU country for the "Intrastat" reporting.

As you weren't even aware of how VAT is paid and reclaimed at each step along the sales chain though, I really have to question if you've ever been involved with a VAT-registered business or had to deal with VAT returns yourself. And in the foregoing debate about exempt and zero-rated items, are you actually aware of the practical differences between the two categories for businesses?
 
At one time if you were sending goods outside the U.K. you did not have to charge VAT on them.
Yes, as you say, at one time it was easy for companies trading within the EU and their customers to sometimes evade paying VAT in either the selling country or the buying country.

Giving them an unfair and unlawful advantage over companies and customers who did pay tax.

And you think that was a good thing, because...?
 
the Government’s clear recommendation is that the United Kingdom should remain a member of a reformed EU.
Of course it is, because the leadership of both of the major parties is committed to remaining within the EU at any cost. The idea that the EU can be reformed (at least to the extent of the considerable reforms which would be needed to make it acceptable) is laughable, as it's been shown time and again that it won't change to any significant degree. It can't even balance its accounts, for crying out loud.......
Wow, that's a zoom off on another
Ask yourself one very simple question: Is there any field which is an "EU competence" (in its own phrasing), in which the regulations are not now more restrictive than at any time in the past?
Oh, here we go, off down another avenue of your misinterpretation and misrepresentation.:rolleyes:
What is being misrepresented? Let's see some examples of areas in which EU regulations have not gradually become more encompassing and more controlling then.
Are you asking me to prove a negative? Be sensible.

Stop being so obtuse and sullenly obstinate. Your denial and refusal does not and will not change facts.
Then let's see something in black and white which says that having been presented with a request from the European Parliament the Commission is required to honor the request, and to do so within a reasonable period of time (or within any specified period of time).
What's the point I've shown you various documented evidence to disprove your claim, yet you have dismissed them all.
You're making a wild allegation without a shred of evidence, which I've disproved time and time again, yet you still maintain your opinion is correct.
Or as now, you present a requirement such as you want something with a time limit in it. :rolleyes:
If I'm not going to get through your prejudice, I'll not waste my time trying.
You can keep your prejudiced opinion.
 
Additionally, I don't care how US conducts their tax system. It's not relevant to this discussion.
Again, how very convenient to dismiss it as being irrelevant, just because it shows quite clearly that it's entirely possible to have varying systems within a single country, never mind across different nations.
In case it's slipped your memory, this thread and this discussion is about whether UK is better off IN or OUT.
It's not about the vagaries of the VAT system. It's not about a comparison between one tax system and another. It's not about comparing knowledge of the VAT system. It's not about testing each others' knowledge about VAT.
I'd love it if there was no VAT, I'd love it if the rates were lower. I'd love it if all the tax systems were scrapped, but it ain't gonna happen.
This discussion is about whether we should vote to leave EU or stay in. Now if you want to base your whole decision on the vagaries of the VAT system or its comparison with some other system, that's entirely up to you. For me the 'trade' argument trumps all those other arguments.

Why don't you provide examples, and comparisons on the amount of administrative savings compared to any extra burden created?
It's really quite simple. At one time if you were sending goods outside the U.K. you did not have to charge VAT on them. Now, if you're exporting to the EU you have to charge VAT at the applicable U.K. rate, and you have to keep separate figures for total sales to every separate EU country for the "Intrastat" reporting.

As you weren't even aware of how VAT is paid and reclaimed at each step along the sales chain though, I really have to question if you've ever been involved with a VAT-registered business or had to deal with VAT returns yourself. And in the foregoing debate about exempt and zero-rated items, are you actually aware of the practical differences between the two categories for businesses?
It's very simple, there are no zero rated VAT categories in EU, but they allow them for those counties that have a legacy of zero ratings.
 
Yes, as you say, at one time it was easy for companies trading within the EU and their customers to sometimes evade paying VAT in either the selling country or the buying country.
No, VAT was collected by the appropriate authority at the destination country, if applicable, just the same as for goods arriving from outside the EU.
 
Are you asking me to prove a negative?
No, I'm just asking you to suggest a few things in which EU regulations today are no more encompassing and no more restrictive than they were, say, 20 years ago.

What's the point I've shown you various documented evidence to disprove your claim, yet you have dismissed them all.
You've shown documents suggesting that the European Parliament has "legislative initiative" and can "request" that the Commission submits certain proposals for new or amended legislation. You've not actually shown anything which states, clearly and unequivocably, that the Commission must do so when requested. M.E.P.'s could request all they want, but if the Commission is not obliged to honor those requests and refuses to do so, then it does come down to the Commission still being in charge of what legislation is proposed to the European Parliament.
 
This discussion is about whether we should vote to leave EU or stay in. Now if you want to base your whole decision on the vagaries of the VAT system or its comparison with some other system, that's entirely up to you. For me the 'trade' argument trumps all those other arguments.
How can you separate the trade argument from VAT when they are so closely interlinked, and when you, yourself, are claiming that it's somehow necessary for VAT systems to be "harmonized" across the EU for that trade?

It's very simple, there are no zero rated VAT categories in EU, but they allow them for those counties that have a legacy of zero ratings.
Yes, but the question was about the practical effect of the difference on U.K. businesses trading in exempt goods and services versus those trading in zero-rated items.
 
Fixed that for you.
If a particular country didn't bother to collect the VAT due on imports, whose fault is that? Certainly not the fault of the U.K. business exporting it.

Harmonising (not just for VAT) should make it harder for crooks to milk anomalies between countries, as when IRA gangsters used to walk cattle in circles to and fro across the border, and smuggle fuel, cigarettes and liquor to fund terrorism.
So now a common tax system is supposed to stop smuggling?
 
I am amused that you are pretending that goods don't get sent to the UK from other countries.

So now a common tax system is supposed to stop smuggling?
Yes, harmonising makes smuggling pointless, as I am sure you are aware.

Nobody smuggles petrol from Surrey to Hampshire, or from England to Scotland (though they might do if Scotland becomes independent).
 
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