VAT office reassures public

Following the Prime Minister’s recent announcement that Value Added Tax (VAT) will be implemented on September 1st 2012, there has been heightened dialogue over the airwaves and directed to the VAT Office as a result.
The VAT Implementation Project Office wishes to advise that the Office is actively preparing to effectively respond to its queries.  A full Public Relations and Education campaign is presently being finalized for roll-out immediately following the Prime Minister’s Budget announcement, which is expected sometime soon.
Ms Adria Rose Sonson, VAT Project Coordinator, advised today, “We at the VAT Office are fully aware of the concerns of the public based on the feedback we have been monitoring since the announcement.  We wish to assure our public that we are working assiduously in the background to put everything in place to commence a full-fledged information dissemination campaign on VAT. We will do all in our power to respond to all of the queries as completely and clearly as possible. This will include amongst other things, media appearances and other face to face outreach whereby we will be dialoguing in further depth to addresses the niggling issues. Our aim is ensure
our public fully understands VAT, their rights,
obligations and responsibilities and VAT’s  role in our economy.  We will explain as clearly as possible what VAT is about, how it works, what to expect, what should be done to prepare, and to demystify the matters surrounding the tax.”
The Coordinator further advised that the Office has also since met with the executive of the St Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture and will continue to work closely with them to get their members ready.
The Ministry of Finance and the VAT Office are also meeting with the Executive of SLHTA today to finalise the treatment of the Tourism Sector in respect to VAT.
Meetings will continue with other Stakeholders to assist with their readiness.
The Project office can be contacted at telephone number 468-1420 or email
vatcoordinator@vat.gov.lc or vatinfo@vat.gov.lc.
VAT Simplifying the collection of Tax.