Value-added tax (VAT) is a consumption tax levied on the value added to goods and services at each stage of the supply chain, from production to the final sale to the consumer. It is an indirect tax, meaning that it is not paid directly by the consumer but rather by businesses, which then pass the cost on to the consumer in the form of higher prices.
VAT is a significant source of revenue for governments around the world. In the United Kingdom, for example, VAT accounts for about 15% of total tax revenue. However, there are a number of ways to avoid paying VAT, both legally and illegally.