Zero-Rated

Business, Legal & Accounting Glossary

Definition: Zero-Rated


Zero-Rated

Quick Summary of Zero-Rated


Denoting goods on which the buyer pays no VAT although the seller can claim back any tax he/she has paid.




What is the dictionary definition of Zero-Rated?

Dictionary Definition


Denoting goods on which the buyer pays no VAT although the seller can claim back any tax he/she has paid.

These include some food items, newspapers, magazines and books, medicine and children’s clothing.


Full Definition of Zero-Rated


Products such as food, books and children’s clothes are subject to VAT at zero rate. Being classed as zero-rated allows the company to reclaim input VAT on related purchases

Almost all countries apply preferential rates to some goods and services, making them either “zero-rated” or “exempt.” For a “zero-rated good,” the government doesn’t tax its retail sale but allows credits for the value-added tax (VAT) paid on inputs. This reduces the price of a good.

Zero-rated goods are products that are not subject to value-added taxes mainly due to their societal importance or personal necessity. For VAT purposes, these goods are zero-rated and don’t have additional taxes levied on them. Some examples include groceries and goods sold by charities.


Examples of Zero-Rated in a sentence


Oranges are suitable, because they are zero-rated.


Zero-Rated FAQ's


What are Zero Rated Goods?

Zero-rated goods are products that are not subject to value-added taxes mainly due to their societal importance or personal necessity. For VAT purposes, these goods are zero-rated and don’t have additional taxes levied on them. Some examples include groceries and goods sold by charities.

Zero-rated goods are commonly found in other countries like the UK that have value-added taxes on certain products. The US Congress has brought up the idea of a value-added tax on products in the United States, but it has never been passed on a federal level.

A value-added tax is a tax that is built into the price of the product. For instance, a manufacturer might be taxed 17% to manufacture a certain product. This 17% tax is passed down to the consumer who buys the product at a higher cost from the manufacturer. So many value-added taxes are not readily apparent to consumers who are actually paying them. They simply get used to paying higher prices for goods and services without knowing what the actual cost is to produce them or the fact that the government is taking an extra fee from the production of that good or service.


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Definition Sources


Definitions for Zero-Rated are sourced/syndicated and enhanced from:

  • A Dictionary of Economics (Oxford Quick Reference)
  • Oxford Dictionary Of Accounting
  • Oxford Dictionary Of Business & Management

This glossary post was last updated: 10th August, 2022 | 0 Views.