value-added tax
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value-added tax
A tax levied on the sale of goods and services and paid by the end consumer. It is added to the net price and paid to the tax office.
In Deutschland beträgt der reguläre Satz der Mehrwertsteuer 19 Prozent.
In Germany, the standard rate of value-added tax is 19 percent.
The word is made up of three parts: 'Mehr' (more), 'Wert' (value), and 'Steuer' (tax). So it literally describes a tax on the added value created by a product or service.
Der Mehrwert einer Veredelung wird durch die Mehrwertsteuer besteuert.
The added value of refinement is taxed through value-added tax.
In everyday life and on invoices, the abbreviation 'MwSt.' is almost always used. It is important to know this abbreviation in order to understand price information correctly.
Der Preis versteht sich zzgl. 19 % MwSt.
The price is plus 19% VAT.
Typical verbs in connection with 'Mehrwertsteuer' (value-added tax) are 'erheben' (to levy), 'abführen' (to remit/pay over), and 'ausweisen' (to show separately). These describe the process from the perspective of the state and businesses.
Unternehmen müssen die eingenommene Mehrwertsteuer an das Finanzamt abführen.
Companies must remit the collected value-added tax to the tax office.
For price information, the phrases 'inklusive Mehrwertsteuer' (including value-added tax, or 'inkl. MwSt.') and 'zuzüglich Mehrwertsteuer' (plus value-added tax, or 'zzgl. MwSt.') are very common. They indicate whether the tax is already included in the price or not.
Das Angebot für Geschäftskunden ist zuzüglich der gesetzlichen Mehrwertsteuer.
The offer for business customers is plus the statutory value-added tax.
added value / surplus value
'Mehrwert' can be short for 'Mehrwertsteuer' (value-added tax). In this sense, both words mean the same tax on goods and services. 'Mehrwertsteuer' is the full and clear form, especially on invoices, in contracts, or when you want to be precise. 'Mehrwert' as a short form is more likely to be heard in shortened expressions, but it is easy to misunderstand because 'Mehrwert' can also mean an additional benefit. Learners may therefore confuse the words. When you are talking about the tax and want to avoid confusion, 'Mehrwertsteuer' is safer.
Für die Buchhaltung müssen wir die Mehrwertsteuer extra ausweisen.
For accounting, we have to list the value-added tax separately.
Auf der Rechnung steht der Preis ohne Mehrwert.
The invoice shows the price excluding VAT.