Input Tax
“Input tax” refers to the tax that a business pays on its inputs or purchases. This can include the goods and services it buys to produce its own products or to provide its own services.
In the context of a Value-Added Tax (VAT) system, which is common in many countries, input tax is the VAT that a business pays on its purchases. This can be reclaimed or deducted from the output tax, which is the VAT that the business charges on its sales.
For example, if a company buys raw materials for $100 and the VAT rate is 10%, it would pay $10 as the input tax. If it then sells the finished product for $200 and the VAT rate is still 10%, it would charge $20 as the output tax. The business could then subtract the input tax ($10) from the output tax ($20), resulting in a net VAT payment of $10 to the government.
Please note that the rules for deducting input tax can vary depending on the jurisdiction and specific tax regulations, and not all input taxes are always deductible.
Example of Input Tax
Let’s consider an example with a hypothetical furniture manufacturing company, “WoodCraft”.
- Purchasing Raw Materials: WoodCraft buys wood worth $5,000 from a supplier to produce furniture. The VAT (Value-Added Tax) rate is 10%. Hence, WoodCraft pays $500 as VAT. This is the input tax.
- Selling Furniture: After manufacturing, WoodCraft sells the furniture to a retailer for $10,000. Again, the VAT rate is 10%. Therefore, WoodCraft charges $1,000 as VAT. This is the output tax.
- Calculating VAT Payment: WoodCraft can now subtract its input tax ($500) from its output tax ($1,000). The result is $500 ($1,000 – $500). So, WoodCraft owes $500 to the government. This is the net VAT that WoodCraft needs to remit.
This mechanism ensures that tax is only paid on the value added at each stage of production, hence the term “Value-Added Tax”. Keep in mind that specifics may vary by jurisdiction. For instance, in some areas, certain types of businesses or purchases may not be eligible for full input tax credits.
