Tax IDs will soon be mandatory in BVI
As the BVI seeks to become more efficient at tax collection, plans are underway to give all residents a tax ID that will help the government become more efficient at revenue collection.
During the Standing Finance Committee deliberations where civil servants and elected leaders assessed the territory’s 2024 budget, Financial Secretary in the Finance Ministry, Jeremiah Frett, noted that the government is getting ready to launch the Standard Integrated Government Tax Administration System (SIGTAS).
SIGTAS is an online system that will help the government collect revenue online. Frett said the platform is undergoing tests and will soon be launched to the general public.
He added that in order for SIGTAS to be effective, everyone in the territory would need to sign up and register for the tax ID. He also stated that hopefully, this tax ID number would eventually be the national ID for the territory.
He also noted that requirements such as good standing certificates will be reintroduced as this will make persons be more responsible as far as having their taxes up to date.
The Leader of the Opposition Ronnie Skelton asked Frett about the ultimate goal of the new system. In response, Frett said the government is moving away from a manual type system and wants people to pay their taxes online.
Third District Representative Julian Fraser asked how the new online payment system will work for those with no access to the internet and those who are not computer literate. Frett stated that those without computers or who are computer illiterate will be able to get help at the Inland Revenue Department, where they would have a special office set up with kiosks and persons to assist.
He said those on the sister islands will be able to go to the Virgin Gorda office. Skelton then asked if every person legally living in the territory will have to register for a tax ID. Frettt said yes and added that even retired persons would be required to have a tax ID since they still be engaged in commerce and other activities.
He said anyone doing business in the BVI should have a trade license and a tax number. He then compared the proposed tax ID system to Social Security, with everyone needing a social security number.
Elected leaders also asked whether the public was being informed about the new tax ID system and Frett revealed that many publicity measures are being used including the display close to the main roundabout, the government’s public relations engine — GIS, public statements by the Premier, and circulars to government employees.
Frett also explained that a new campaign will be rolled out shortly to give the public more information about the new tax ID system which will be mandatory for all.
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all yall doing is taking and not giving what are we paying taxes for stop turning us into slaves with this bs
PLEASE if you are going to ask us to do this, at least simplify the process. Either it is on line 100% or it isn’t. NHI same issue.
Dont ask every working individual to have to leave their job to come to the office to finish the process that should be able to be completed on line.
While the office staff have been so helpful it is a ridiculous process and just wasting peoples time.
The government is making sure they collect every red cent from poor people, show us the good you are doing with people hard earn money , look at road infrastructure in the east and here the “primier” said he live look at the school they break down can’t even start rebuild yet where is people tax paying money going we the people should stand up an get what we deserve .
The silliness continues. You can hardly fix the roads, but now spending money on systems that require internet, that don’t work have the time.
I read this and I laugh, laugh and laugh. We have all the policies in place to track income, social security and nhi on every business and employee working and living in the country but because those policies are failures we pay some consultants to tell us we need this? Sorry but my gut is hurting from laughing out loud! I have a great idea and it won’t cost a million dollars! Public employees..do your job. Government employees..do your job. General public…working people…do your job and make sure your taxes are being paid,insurance and social security too. It’s so obvious that the system is flawed and theirs no hope for change while persons like this are in charge to make the change.
Yea and when can we smoke a joint legally? Colonial discrimination in full swing. Oppression and extortion.
Now about those tax identification cards…
We are going back to slavery just modernized.
Taste freedom and they say it’s too good those people are too free. Look they aren’t paying taxes. We have no way to leach off them as has been tradition for centuries.
Tell us does royalty pay taxes? Do they call it corrupt when they get free money direct deposit to spend as they wish?
Come and justify it when that bit has been justified. Not one cent more in taxes should be paid until local leaders are responsible in spending and UK issues an apology for their ill gotten gains over the course of our ancestors enslavement.
We are free people.
Pure bullshiggidy
What kind of word is dat, is it abbreviation for Taxi? We don’t want no tax in BVI so no ID from me, thank you. I say Corrupt politicians must first pay tax on crooked deals before hitting common man!
ALL WE ASK FOR IS GOOD ANDD COMMON Infrastructures
We already have this tax id number. Its called your social security number. Just use this and stop wasting taxpayer money. In the US your SS number is what is used to track all of this. Why reinvent the wheel????
You can’t tax my income as a natural person and not BVI companies. These guys in charge are green