Before trying to establish the difference between direct and indirect taxation, it is perhaps best to define the terms individually. Direct taxes are applied to sources of income, such as wages, property, savings or other taxable assets, of every person residing within any given country. These taxes are calculated according to the total income of each individual and paid regularly (once a month, or once a year, for instance) to the government. In some countries, direct taxation is referred to as legalised extortion by critics. It is, however, important for these taxes to be collected in order to support the infrastructure of each country.
In contrast, indirect taxation is a charge applied to rights, privileges, expenditure or consumption, rather than income or property. Customs and excise duties on imports and production, and sales or value added tax (VAT) applied during the production-to-distribution process are all examples of indirect taxes.
As they are less obvious to consumers than direct income taxes, governments tend to be more tempted to increase them to generate additional state revenue. Otherwise known as consumption taxes, they are termed as regressive measures, because they are not based on a principle of the ability to pay.
Tax laws can stipulate what can be taxed directly or indirectly, but they are not able to determine how the funds to pay them are collected. It is thus possible for a direct tax to become an indirect tax to consumers through retailers passing the cost of a direct tax on to them via increased prices.
The difference of direct and indirect taxation consequently lies in the nature of what they are applied to: Direct taxes are applied to tangible concepts such as income or property, whereas indirect taxes are applied to the use of such property or income.
In contrast, indirect taxation is a charge applied to rights, privileges, expenditure or consumption, rather than income or property. Customs and excise duties on imports and production, and sales or value added tax (VAT) applied during the production-to-distribution process are all examples of indirect taxes.
As they are less obvious to consumers than direct income taxes, governments tend to be more tempted to increase them to generate additional state revenue. Otherwise known as consumption taxes, they are termed as regressive measures, because they are not based on a principle of the ability to pay.
Tax laws can stipulate what can be taxed directly or indirectly, but they are not able to determine how the funds to pay them are collected. It is thus possible for a direct tax to become an indirect tax to consumers through retailers passing the cost of a direct tax on to them via increased prices.
The difference of direct and indirect taxation consequently lies in the nature of what they are applied to: Direct taxes are applied to tangible concepts such as income or property, whereas indirect taxes are applied to the use of such property or income.