As a buyer you also don't pay VAT to the government. You pay the seller a price that's marked up exactly by VAT, which the seller then pays to the government.

As a buyer you also don't pay VAT to the government. You pay the seller a price that's marked up exactly by VAT, which the seller then pays to the government. In summary, if you don't pay it directly doesn't mean you don't pay it indirectly.