There are some forms of VAT that are just as transparent as the FairTax. Although compliance is arguably more complicated. Not compicated by the record keeping required,mind you, just complicated by the difference in the number of people who must comply.
There are other forms of VAT that cascade, as well as hide the taxes, but not all. FYI
"Not compicated by the record keeping required,mind you, just complicated by the difference in the number of people who must comply."
I certainly don't see how that could be the case. As someone who has designed cost accounting systems, I can tell you that keeping track of the raw material and labor costs of a manufactured product which contains hundreds of parts is not trivial. Now we are saying that each and every one of those parts would have its own VAT component which would have to be tracked and input into a computer system separately from its unit cost.
How can you say that a VAT doesn't impose any additional administrative burden?