Local

IRD Releases Tax Amnesty Details

The Government of St. Lucia has approved a tax amnesty for all tax types administered by the Inland Revenue Department, for the period October 01, 2016 to February 28, 2018.

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Inland Revenue Department held a press conference yesterday, October 10, to update the media on the latest developments relating to the Tax Amnesty 2016. The amnesty is one out of a package of tax relief measures announced by the Political Leader of the United Workers Party, Allen Chastanet when he announced the Five to Stay Alive initiative, prior to the release of the party manifesto.
A press release from the Inland /revenue Department read: “The ‘amnesty’, number four on the list is described by Mr. Chastanet to be ‘very dear to his heart’.”

The release went on to quote the Prime Minister as saying: “The United Worker’s Party will have a targeted amnesty on hospital fees owed to Victoria and St. Jude Hospital. It is unacceptable that a person who is unemployed or is a pensioner feels degraded to go to the hospital because they cannot pay their bill. What kind of Government; what kind of man does it take to be able to impose that kind of wickedness on the people of this country?”

The ‘tax relief’ measures included in the Five to Stay Alive include the immediate reduction and ultimate removal of the dreaded Value Added Tax, the reduction in vehicle license fees by 50 percent of the increase, doubling of school feeding and transportation subsidies, the implementation of a targeted amnesty on hospital fees owed to Victoria and St. Jude Hospital and the removal of personal property tax for a period of three years.

Speaking at Monday’s press conference, Inland Revenue Comptroller Sophia Henry elaborated: “For the period 1996 to 2015, any taxpayer who has any outstanding amount up to December 2015, all the penalty will be waived. Property tax, it will cover any amounts outstanding up to income year 2014. The amnesty is for a period of 17 months, from October 1, 2016, to February 28, 2018.”

Related Post

The Comptroller said penalties will be waived in full and interest of 60, 80 or 100 percent waived based on the settlement date.

“If taxes are settled by February 2017, there will be a full waiver of the penalty and interest so the tax payer will only pay the tax amount,” Henry told the media. “If the taxes are settled by November 2017, again full waiver of penalty, but 80 percent waiver of the interest. If the taxes are settled by February 2018, full waiver of penalty, and interest of 60 percent will be waived.”

Taxpayers with arrears are asked to contact the Inland Revenue Department to take advantage of the amnesty.

No Author

Recent Posts

Would Be Robber Shot Dead in Corinth

The male was later identified as thirty -three (33) year old Ted Smith of Mon Repos, Micoud was transported to… Read More

3 hours ago

Machine Guns No Match For A Match!

In recent dispatch to a writer friend from our days of California dreaming (several years ago he too had… Read More

17 hours ago

Vincent Edmunds St. Omer Obituary

Dr. Vincent Victor Edmonds St. Omer, 89, of Columbia, passed away on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. He was born on… Read More

6 days ago

At long last, shepherd not afraid to take risks in the interest of his flock!

The in-depth comment coming from Archbishop Gabriel Malzaire is most commendable.  It's good to have in the seat of local religious… Read More

6 days ago

Wall of China Can’t Touch Helen’s Bam-Bam” Wall!

"The Bum Bum Wall is disgrace and these women should be ashamed of themselves, no pride, no respect for… Read More

1 week ago

18 Year Old Arrested for Murder

The male was later identified as Scott Chester Louison twenty (20) years old of Morne Du Don, Castries Read More

2 weeks ago

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. No personally identifiable information is stored.