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1. INTRODUCTION
Ethiopian tax system dates back to ancient times, for example in the Axumite kingdom there was
a practical of traditional taxation. The traditional taxation provides for taxes on crops, line stock
and live stock products such as wool, butter and milk.
The current Ethiopia tax system is composed of direct and indirect taxes. The direct taxes include
income tax (employment income tax and business income tax), capital gain tax. And taxes on
other income such as taxes on income from game. Income from dividends, etc. the indirect tax
are composed of Excises tax, turn over tax. Value added tax (VAT) stamp duty and custom
duties (Gebrie, 2006 page, 170)
One of the mechanisms is which countries rise revenue to finance government spending on the
goods and service that most of us demand is taxation,
Value added tax (VAT) is a tax on value added to good and services by enterprises at each stage
of the production and distribution process (Gebrie, 2003).
Value added tax is a tax not on the total value of the good being sold but only on the value added
to it by the last seller (Bhatia, 2003).
The Ethiopian government has introduce, VAT as part of the overall tax reform program. The tax
reform program is preceded by establishment of a new ministry of revenue as a first step to
improve tax collections and to combat fiscal fraud.
It was gradually has adopted for it consumption variety and selected on it own exception area
and multiple rate schedules (Bhatia, 2003). late it was gradually expand to African countries
especially countries which were colonies of france like cot-devour, Senegal, mail and other
western country which were under colony of franc.
The development of this tax system is fast it has now employed by large umber of Latin
America Asia ,Africa and pacific countries value added tax (vat has become a major tax
instrument world wide The global trend to introduced VAT I more countries is countersuing.
Ethiopian tax reform program has introduced VAT since January, 2003 (Gebrie, 2008).
The Ethiopian government has introduced ,VAT as part proceeded by tax reform program ,the
tax reform program is preceded by establishment of anew ministry of renewed as the first step to
improve tax collections and to combat fiscal frond , The need for value added tax (VAT)
tenements from the very wackiness of the sale tax that is intended to replace (Purhot ,2000).
value added tax is an in direct tax that is charged when ever a taxable person make taxable
supply of good and services in course of his business
Although it is finally borne by consumer (Hancock, 1998) service while other summit their VAT
their VAT returns without payments. There is also deliberate submission of nil returns non
issuance of VAT in voices and enter trainmen provides and operations refuse to use the VAT
coupons (Alemayehu, 2009).
Value added tax (VAT) is a new system introduced in Ethiopia. This tax system is not new to
other countries.
Beginning with the adoption of tax sur, lavaliere adopted by France in 1954, it was gradually
been adoption by other countries (purhot,2000). The development this tax system is so fast it has
now bee employed by a large number of Latin American, Asian, African and pacific countries
value Added tax (VAT) has become a major tax instrument worldwide. The global trend to
introduced VAT in more countries is continuing (Goode,1993). Ethiopians tax reform program
has introduced VAT since January 2003.
The Ethiopian government has introduce, VAT as part of the overall tax reform program. The tax
reform program is preceded by establishment of a new ministry of revenue as a first step to
improve tax collections and to combat fiscal fraud.
The need for value Added tax (VAT) emanates from the very weakness of the sales tax that it is
intended to replace (Purhot, 2000). VAT is an indirect tax that is changed whenever at a taxable
person make a taxable supply of goods and services in the course of his business although it is
finally borne by consumer (Hancock, 1998).
Service while other submit their VAT their VAT returns without payments. There is also
deliberate submission of nil returns non-issuance of VAT invoice and entertainment provides and
loaf operators refuse to use the VAT coupons.
Unlike the turn over tax which is applied to the full value of a product every time the item
changes hands in the process of production and distribution the VAT is assessed at each stage on
only the increment in value acquired by the product since the last taxable transaction. At the end
of the chain the total amount of tax paid on a given commodity is determined only by the tax rate
and the final price of the commodity, required less of the number of stages through which is has
passed what has been collected in fractional payments is equivalent to a single stage tax on the
value of the final product. The theory is that the end consumer carves the burden of VAT not the
business, which is merely collecting the VAT on behalf of tax all Hoity. But the reality is not
quite so simple (Gebrie, 2008). For fully taxable businesses VAT is not a cast but is merely an
accounting headache whatever you collect in output tax must be handed over to tax authority
whatever you collect in output tax must be handed over to tax authority whatever you pay in put
tax can be recovered from tax authority (apart from the input VAT on personal passenger vehicle
and entertainment but on has taken care full on purchase and sales of taxable supplies otherwise
VAT will affect his/her cash flow (Gebrie, 2008).
2.2 Computation of vat
In modern taxation there are four types of value added taxation system there are:
A. Gross product value added tax.
B. Income type value added tax.
C. Capital exemption type value added tax.
D. Consumption type value added tax. (Gebrie, 2008).
Not made in the course or furtherance of business Curse or furtherance the way a taxable
person has to carry out its activity to develop advance and progress the taxable activity it
refers to the normal and expected events or processes to develop the taxable activity.
Anything done in connection with the commencement or termination of a taxable
activity is treated as carried out in the course or furtherance of that taxable activity
(Gebrie, 2008).
2.4 VAT Refund
VAT registered person shall got refund
If at least 25% of the value of a registered persons taxable transactions for the accounting period
other registered person in a single transaction of substantially all of the asset of a taxable activity
provide a notice in writing signet by the transferred is finished with 21 days after the supply
First apply the amount of the excess in reduction of any tax levy interest of penalty
payable by the person under the customs proclamation the income tell proclamation and
excise tax proclamation.
The repay any amount remaining to the person if the amount to be refunded is move than
50 by.
When registered person is entitled to refund and the tax authority is satisfied but does not pay the
refund with in specified date the authority shall pay the person the refund plus interest set at 25%
over and above the highest cam mercies lending interest rate that prevailed during the preceding
quarter (Gebrie, 2008).
2.5 Registration
In Ethiopia, registration for VAT is categorized in two
In put VAT can be recovered if a person registered it will therefore be beneficial to voluntarily
resister where the person makes mainly zero rated supplies in such a case input VAT will be
recovered and on VAT will be charged on zero rated out puts (Gebrie, 2008).
Application for compulsory as well as voluntary registration must be made on application form
called “application for VAT registration” on application for cale and the authority is required to
register the person in the VAT register and issue a certificate of registration within 30 days of the
registration containing details of.
The full name and other relevant details of the registered person.
The date of issuance of the certificate.
The data from which the registration takes effect and
The registered person’s tax payer identification number.
If registration is disallowed FTRA will have to notify the applicator and the reasons for the
refusal. The tax authority many deny the application for voluntary registration if the person.
1. At the end of any period of 12 calendar month the person made during that period, taxable
transactions with a total value exceeding 500.000 birr or the last day of the month of the
period if
2. At the beginning of any period of 12 calendar moths when there is reasonable around to
expect that the total value of taxable transactions to be made by the person during that period
will exceed 500.000 birr (Gebrie, 2008).
D. It is un economical
VAT system involves high of administration, assessment, verification collection, etc, hence, it is
highly un economical (MisrakTesfaye (MSc)).
A taxable person can be an individual firm company, as long as much a person is required to be
registered for vat (Gebrie, 2006, p 174-175)
Total transaction less intermediate transactions (that is purchases made from firms by other
firms) is equal to the sum of wages, interest, rent, and other input payment in the nation summing
up to GDP. This may be expressed as the following identity;
When intermediate transactions represent purchases by firms of goods and services to be further
proceeds in production. (Hyman 2005, p 632-633)
1. For many countries, the possibility of avoiding the adverse consequences of the turn over
tax, without concentrating the impact of the tax at any one stage in production and
distribution. The value added tax produces no economic distortions or loss of efficiency if
properly designed. The advantages of the retail sales tax are fully attained: yet a large
portion- more than half of the revenue is collected at pre-retail levels. This is of no great
important in the United States but is great merit in many countries.
2. Under other forms of sales tax, exclusion of sales of for business use requires check up
on both the seller and customer, with the value added tax; all sales among the business
firms are taxable: the purchaser takes credit for the tax paid on purchases. Therefore, that
audit must be made only up on the purchaser. Not up on the seller.
3. The cross audit check, tax reported as paid by one firm to its suppliers. For which it takes
credit against its own tax liability, should appear as tax paid to the government by the
supplier. This cross check is not automatic- but is can be made, by auditor or ultimately,
by computer (John F.Due 2006, p 420-21).
1. GNPTYPE gross national product. Were subject to general sales tax. The tax would be
application to both consumer and capital goods. It would be paid by the seller. When the
product was sold to its last purchaser. Whether a consumer ,a firm which adds to its
inventory, gross receipts minus the cost of purchasing intermediate goods from prior
producers in production line. The tax base at each stage would thus equal depreciation
,wage, interest, profits and rent, it would be the most comprehensive form of value added
tax .and may be referred to as a value added tax of the GNP type .as noted , it is
equivalent to sales tax applicable to both consumer and capital goods, with its impact
point.
2. Income type this value added approach, as previous noted, may also be used to
implement a sales tax on net product, suppose that the intent is to tax net national product
equal to GNP, minus capital consumption allowances or depreciation such a tax may be
imposed in multiple-stage form by taxing the net value added by each firm, with net
value added defined as gross receipts minus purchases of intermediate goods and
depreciation. The same result may also be accomplished by general income tax, since the
bases of a new product and an income tax are impact the same. The value added tax of
the income type those differs from that of the consumption type in that the former permit
the firm to deduct depreciation.
3. CONSUNPTIONTYPE: the last method is referred to as the consumption type of value
added tax. The base of the value added tax is now defined as the firm’s gross receipts
minus the value of all its purchase of intermediate product (material and goods on
process) as well as its capital expenditure. We are left with value of consumer goods
output only. Such a tax is therefore equivalent to a general retail sales tax on consumer
goods the two differing in administrating procedure only (Musgary, 1989, p 400-401)
To cover the cost of administration ,maintain law and order in the country and for
defense, but now government’s expenditure pattern changed and gives service to the
public more than these basic purposes and it restore social justice in the society by
providing social, services such as education, public health, employment, pension,
housing, sanitation and other public services.
To enforce government financial policy, such as in controlling and encouraging
investment in industry (Gebrie, 2006, p-16)
If a vat invoice is not issued within fixe days after the basic tax point, the supply is
treated as taking place.
At the time the goods are made available to the recipients sold on transferred,
or the service are rendered; or
In the case of a delivery of good, that involves shipment of these goods, when
the shipment starts.
If the payment is made in advance of the time described in (a) or (b) and if a vat invoice
is not issued within 5 days often the date of payment, the supply will be considered as
having taken place by the time at the time payment is made. If two or more payments
are made for a supply, which payment is treated as made for all separate supply to the
extent of the payment.
If services are rendered on a regular or continuing basis, a rendering of services is
treated as taking place on each occasion. When a vat invoice is issued in connection
with such services or. If payment is made earlier, at the time when payment made for
any part of such services.
In the case of supply of goods or rendering of services to employees, including
gratuitously in course or furtherance of a taxable activity. The time of a supply is the
time when the use or consumption of goods or services begins.
In case of vat registration is canceled, the time of supply is immediately before the
cancelation takes effect.
In the case of a supply for a consideration in many received by the supplier by means a
machine mater or other devices operated by coin, note or coupon occurs when the coin
note or coupon is taken from that machine meter or other device by or on behalf of the
supplier (Gebrie, 2006, p 179-180).