Original sentence: The "value added tax" has been criticized as the burden of it relies on personal end-consumers of products and is therefore a regressive tax (the poor pay more, in comparison, than the rich)
Edited sentence: The "value added tax" has been criticized as the burden of it relies on personal end-consumers of products and is therefore, as any sales tax based on the consumption of essentials, a regressive tax (the poor pay more, in comparison, than the rich)