The Institute of Indirect Taxation is a professional body in the United Kingdom. Its members specialise in the study and practice of indirect taxes. The body was formed in July 1991 and formally launched in October 1991. It gained permission to call itself an institute in December of the same year. It operates as a company limited by guarantee.
Entry to the Institute is normally gained by taking up to four professional examinations in indirect taxation. There are two routes through the exams, the Value Added Tax route and the customs route which reflect two of the most major areas that indirect taxation is applied to in the United Kingdom. It is possible to gain exemptions from some of the exams through possessing other suitable qualifications which include those from various British accountancy professional bodies, the Chartered Institute of Taxation and HM Revenue and Customs.
The four papers are:
Those who have passed the examinations and been accepted into membership are entitled to use the designatory letters AIIT (Associate of the Institute of Indirect Taxation). Upon submission of a thesis to the institute it is possible to become a Fellow of the Institute of Indirect Taxation which allows for the use of the designatory letters FIIT. Other categories of member, which are without designatory letters, are student members and affiliate members. It is also possible to be made an honorary member or fellow.