We will replace the archaic and distorting sales tax system we now have with a multi-stage system that will be effective in supporting growth and job creation.

Without prejudice to rules relating to sales made at airport shops under customs control and on board aircraft, Member States shall take the necessary steps with regard to sales at the retail stage to permit in the cases and under the conditions provided for in paragraphs 3 and 4 the remission of turnover tax on deliveries of goods carried in the personal luggage of travellers leaving a Member State.

Without prejudice to rules relating to sales made at airport shops under customs control and on board aircraft, Member States may, as regards sale at the retail trade stage, authorize in the cases and under the conditions provided for in paragraphs 3 and 4 the remission of turnover tax on goods carried in the personal luggage of travellers leaving a Member State.

1. For purposes of calculating the tax burden on a product at the penultimate stage, account may be taken of the burdens imposed at that stage on those raw materials, semi-finished products and finished products which are used in raw materials, semi-finished products or finished products taken into account at the final stage, or in any other factor or component taken into account at the final stage, if it represents at that stage not less than 3 % of the selling price of the final product before tax.

1. Where, in the case of a product or group of products, a Member State does not calculate the average tax burden in accordance with Articles 2 to 6, that burden may be estimated at a standard rate corresponding to 100 %, 75 %, 50 % or 30 % of the standard rate of turnover tax, according to whether the factors and components of the product or group of products which may be taken into account at the final stage and are liable to the standard rate or to the increased rate of turnover tax represent 65 %, 50 %, 35 % or less than 35 %, respectively, of the selling price of the product or group of products before tax.

importation and of repayments on exportation introduced so as to equalise, as regards national products, the burden resulting from the cumulative multi-stage turnover tax at the various stages of production, excluding the tax on sales by the final producer.