PUBLIC pushback over valuations for property tax payments and concerns on how this tax is evaluated caused the Government to take immediate steps to rectify the situation. But this does not mean that property tax payments have been suspended. This from Finance Minister Colm Imbert who made a statement in Parliament on March 15.

“Contrary to media reports and postings on Facebook and elsewhere, there has been no ‘suspension’ of property tax.”

What has happened, Imbert continued, is Government has noted the various concerns raised about residential property tax and taken appropriate action to alleviate the concerns as the new (property tax) system is being rolled out.

On March 14, people were concerned when they saw notices posted at several Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) offices stating property tax payments were suspended. While differently worded, the signs all indicated tax payments had ceased on March 14 “with immediate effect until further notice.” Questions circulated on social media as people wondered what this meant.

People such as pensioner Steve Khan described the tax as unfair. He showed correspondence from the Finance Ministry, which said the annual rental value (ARV) of his house at Panco Lane, San Fernando, a board and concrete structure, was $96,264. Khan claimed that no one ever came in person to evaluate his property.

The Opposition UNC also demanded clarification from Government on the suspension of property tax payments.

On Friday, Imbert also said Government will rectify problems associated with the collection of property tax when it debates the Property Tax (Amendment) Bill 2024 to the House on March 18. The bill was laid in the House on Friday.

“On behalf of the government, I wish to express my deep regret to all of those who were inconvenienced.”

With the bill now before the House, Imbert requested his ministry’s permanent secretary to ask the BIR to stop collecting the property tax until the new rate of residential property tax is in effect. Under the original system, the tax is calculated on the basis of three per cent of the ARV of their residential properties. Up to March 13, he continued, a total of 801 property tax payments were made, totaling $1,030,864.55. “All of these taxpayers will be issued with new tax notices at the new rate of two per cent and refunded. I have asked the BIR to do so promptly.”

Regarding notices posted on the doors of some regional collection officers about property tax payments being suspended until further notice, Imbert said, “These notices were not authorized and should not have been put up, especially in view of the fact that the Property Tax Amendment Act 2024 is not yet law.”

His investigations into the matter revealed that some BIR employees put up these notices after they became aware that an amendment to the act would be debated in Parliament next week. While their actions may have been guided by good intentions, Imbert said this was done without authorization, his knowledge, or consent. “This is not the way that a Cabinet decision