May 20, 2021
A solution to vexing delays for the registration of vehicles remains on track for July, Revenue Commissioner Louisa Lewis-Ward assured Wednesday.
Lewis-Ward offered an apology to frustrated Barbadians who have been bombarding social media and radio with bitter complaints about the registration system’s delays.
She took to Voice of Barbados radio to disclose that the Barbados Revenue Authority has received about 3,000 applications and the process has been set back by a number of issues.
The Revenue Commissioner said: “There are delays for a number of reasons, right now we have incomplete applications of over 250 where people have not submitted the right documentation,” she said, indicating that BRA would increase advertising to inform the public about what is required.
Review of TAMIS system underway
Article by May 7, 2021
A decision has not been made yet on whether the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) will continue to use the Tax Administration Management Information System (TAMIS).
BRA’s Revenue Commissioner Louisa Lewis-Ward today said while a list of issues associated with the software had been itemized discussions had not reached an advanced stage on if it would be replaced.
“We haven’t had that level of dialogue around the TAMIS system. What we do have is a listing of issues, problems, and some things are right in the TAMIS system as well. So we have a listing of everything we need to address within the system and certainly, we will be taking a look at that listing. The directors are taking a look at it in earnest to see how far we can go to rectify some of the issues which caused taxpayers discomfort in the system.
BRA collects just over $2 billion in taxes
Article by May 7, 2021
For the fiscal period ending March 31, 2021, the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) collected just over $2.24 billion.
However, says the Revenue Commissioner at the BRA, Louisa Lewis-Ward, this amount is down by over $208 million in comparison with the previous year, and she attributes the decrease to the COVID-19 pandemic and a rapidly slowing economy.
Mrs. Lewis-Ward made the comments Thursday during a virtual media conference. She told reporters: “This decline of eight per cent is primarily attributed to a decline of $192 million in VAT; a decline of $117 million in income tax; and an excise tax decline of $81 million.
BRA says tax relief available for some
Article by May 7, 2021
The Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) is throwing a lifeline to persons struggling to pay their taxes.
This was disclosed today by BRA’s Revenue Commissioner, Louisa Lewis-Ward who said the olive branch was being extended in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She said with thousands of Barbadians facing economic challenges due to the pandemic, BRA was open to waiving penalties for those who could not afford to pay.
However, she explained that the tax itself could not be waived in most instances.
“We’re looking at land taxes and at personal taxes where taxpayers are experiencing difficulties. We’ve looked at the waiver of penalties and interests on the VAT as well. For the land tax if you have arrears of land tax we are looking at providing waivers of back penalties and interest which may have compounded the obligation that you have to pay,” Lewis-Ward pointed out during a bi-annual
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