By Prior Beharry
INDEPENDENT Senator Helon Francis joined with the Opposition on Monday night and voted “No” on the Property Tax Amendment Bill.
However, the bill was passed with all 15 of the Government Senators supporting it as well as another Independent Senator.
After debate and the vote, a division was called and when the results were announced by Vice President of the Senate Muhammad Yunus Ibrahim, the tally was 16 for, seven against and seven abstentions.
While the six Opposition Senators and Francis voted “no”, seven of the Independent Senators present abstained and Independent Senator Anthony Vieira said “yes” as did the Government Senators.
The bill piloted by Finance Minister Colm Imbert comes into law after the original one was amended to reduce the property tax from 3% to 2%.
This after residents complained about getting valuations deemed more than the value of their properties and Imbert admitting to a number of issues with the process.
The new act also increases the period of objections from 30 days to six months.
The Government went to Parliament after “unauthorised” notices were placed at offices of the Board of Inland Revenue on March 14 stating that they were no longer collecting property taxes.
On March 18, in the Lower House, Imbert said, “My investigations have revealed that some of the staff in the Board and Inland Revenue, after becoming aware of the provisions in the amendment bill took it upon themselves to do this, with apparent good intentions, but without authorisation, and without my knowledge or consent. This is not the way that a Cabinet decision should be communicated to the public, especially on a matter as sensitive as this.”
The finance minister also identified a number of issues with the old tax including:
- At the middle to upper levels, the Annual Rental Values identified in Valuation Notices were not consistent with the expectations of property owners or with the current property rental market;
- Some residential land owners and occupiers in close proximity of each other have complained about illogical discrepancies in Annual Rental Values;
- The obscure manner through which some Annual Rental Values have been determined; and
- Duplication in Valuation notices to residential land owners.
Imbert said people who paid their property taxes will be refunded.
He said, “Additionally, I have been advised by the BIR that a total of 801 payments of property tax had been made up until Wednesday March 13, 2024, for a total of $1,030,864.55 – an average of $1,297 in annual property tax.
“All of these taxpayers will be issued with new tax notices at the new rate of 2% and refunded, and I have asked the BIR to do so promptly.”
Support journalism. AZP News is an independent news organisation that is not affiliated with any big business and depends solely on advertising to pay our bills. Therefore, we are asking for the generosity of our readers to help us with small donations of any amount, but we will be happy with $20, $50 or $100. Click Here to Donate
