Regardless of how the tax is collected, it has exactly the same effect. Practically speaking, in order to get compliance the tax will either have to be collected at the time of sale or provision of service, or there will have to be an elaborate enforcement scheme.
And remember, a "business" tax is a personal tax for every self employed person, and most small business owners. And the customer will most certainly have to pay the 16%, since the seller or service provider will owe the 16% as soon as the transaction is completed.
Not if the entire business tax structure is eliminated which is what Cruz’ plan does. Then if you tax at the beginning or the end it wouldn’t matter because the tax is set on the product to be paid by the company. One time only.
Again, it’s a European concept and I don’t agree with the idea of it which is why I think (hope) he’ll modify it to flat if he gets in.