Maurice Lauré
Encyclopedia
Maurice Lauré is primarily known for creating the taxe sur la valeur ajoutée (TVA in French
, otherwise known as value added tax
(VAT) in English
).
Originally an engineer
with the French postal and telephone service (PTT
), he joined the French tax inspectorate after World War II. In 1952, he became joint director of the new tax authority, the Direction générale des impôts, which he had helped to create.
In 1954, he invented an indirect tax
on consumption which became the TVA. His idea was quickly adopted because it forced taxpayers at all levels in the production process to administer and account for the tax themselves, rather than putting the burden only on retailers or requiring assessment by the tax authorities.
He later joined the board of several private sector companies, including Société Générale
(the bank) and Nouvelles Galeries (a retailer).
His name is associated to the :fr:Taxe Lauré which is a tax on import goods from countries having an unfair advantage about salaries and working conditions.
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, otherwise known as value added tax
Value added tax
A value added tax or value-added tax is a form of consumption tax. From the perspective of the buyer, it is a tax on the purchase price. From that of the seller, it is a tax only on the "value added" to a product, material or service, from an accounting point of view, by this stage of its...
(VAT) in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
).
Originally an engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
with the French postal and telephone service (PTT
PTT
PTT may refer to:Chemistry and medicine:* Partial thromboplastin time, a performance indicator in medicine for coagulation status* Photothermal Therapy, A method of using light and photosensitizers for medical treatments...
), he joined the French tax inspectorate after World War II. In 1952, he became joint director of the new tax authority, the Direction générale des impôts, which he had helped to create.
In 1954, he invented an indirect tax
Indirect tax
The term indirect tax has more than one meaning.In the colloquial sense, an indirect tax is a tax collected by an intermediary from the person who bears the ultimate economic burden of the tax...
on consumption which became the TVA. His idea was quickly adopted because it forced taxpayers at all levels in the production process to administer and account for the tax themselves, rather than putting the burden only on retailers or requiring assessment by the tax authorities.
He later joined the board of several private sector companies, including Société Générale
Société Générale
Société Générale S.A. is a large European Bank and a major Financial Services company that has a substantial global presence. Its registered office is on Boulevard Haussmann in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, while its head office is in the Tours Société Générale in the business district of La...
(the bank) and Nouvelles Galeries (a retailer).
His name is associated to the :fr:Taxe Lauré which is a tax on import goods from countries having an unfair advantage about salaries and working conditions.