Property Tax in Trinidad & Tobago

[RIPEBREDFRUIT]

if the PSA was more proactive and Responsible then maybe they might actually take note of what BAD WORK ETHIC their OWN people have and start some form of accountability for a fair days work vs the pay they want to demand.

[firstchoicett]

It's have some people who are PS and they really work hard you know . It have others who does play the ass . I even know someone who works IT for a big government organization and becz a family relative has a high post he got the job . The person does be selling old computer parts on this very forums and other forums.
Nobody can't say TT don't have money E. Williams said the country have money to give everyone a million in his days .
Now is who you know inside that getting you contracts .

[UML]

why is watson duke promoting the reintroduction of the property tax?,,,,is it that he is of the opinion that the majority of his members would not be affected......or.......would he use it as another reason/excuse to demand higher salaries?

[*$kїđž!™]

why is watson duke promoting the reintroduction of the property tax?,,,,is it that he is of the opinion that the majority of his members would not be affected......or.......would he use it as another reason/excuse to demand higher salaries?

he wants "rich" people who own land to pay the taxes...which would be collected by the government and then used to pay the "poor" people salaries....

so is best not to own any land or property in trinidad...let the rich ppl buy land....pay tax and us poor people would collect........

[firstchoicett]

Well what's d word when u living on gov land and waiting to get it ?

[CBharath]

Well what's d word when u living on gov land and waiting to get it ?

freeness

[RIPEBREDFRUIT]

this country love to encourage freeness, and you wonder why the poor people dont try to better themselves.

[firstchoicett]

Well what's d word when u living on gov land and waiting to get it ?

freeness

it have a next one starts with S.

[Strauss]

Rent will still go up if they put it back though. What he should be pushing for us for the HDC to start to give out houses so the number of people renting will fall creating a glut in the market to hopefully drive down rent and house prices.

This is Trinidad.

Prices of land and houses don't fluctuate based on market forces like the rest of the world. They just keep going up and up.

[pete]

If the government released 10,000 houses onto the market, that's 10,000 families who now won't be renting, looking to buy a house etc. It's all about supply and demand. Remove the demand and all the people who want to sell houses that they bought for 4-500k and now want to sell for 900-1.2Mil will have to start to think about dropping the price to something realistic.

[firstchoicett]

^ agreed but I look at some of those house HDC build and the foundation not looking all that .

[*$kїđž!™]

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/TAX ... 92106.html


TAX MUST COME BACK
Howai: Lost property fees costing State revenue

By Carla Bridglal
Story Created: Jul 14, 2012 at 10:54 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jul 14, 2012 at 10:54 PM ECT
xRecently-appointed Finance Minister Larry Howai says a more efficient and equitable property tax has to be reintroduced in the country.
"We have to bring back that property tax. It is costing the Treasury money (in lost revenue) that could be used to develop the country. I do need for us to revisit that property tax and consider introducing something more efficient, effective and more equitable than proposed previously," Howai told the Sunday Express last Wednesday, during an interview at his eighth floor office in the Eric Williams Financial Complex, Port of Spain.
The previous stance taken by the People's Partnership Government during the lead-up to the 2010 general election was to campaign on an "Axe the Tax" platform.
That manifesto promised to repeal the Property Tax Act of 2009, legislative reform that would have essentially provided new paradigms upon which property would have been taxed.
The legislation was passed in December 2009 under the former People's National Movement (PNM) government.
The People's Partnership Government has not sought to enforce the current legislation and has instead indicated it plans to bring legislation repealing the Act, passed in December 2009, and to re-establish the property tax at the old pre-2009 rates.
Property tax has not been collected since January 2010.
Official figures show property taxes collected in 2007 amounted to $82 million.
"Property taxes exist virtually all over the world because if you own a property, there is a cost attached to it at the micro and macro level: garbage, sewage disposal and everything that goes with maintenance.
"Trinidad and Tobago has had land and building taxes for more than a hundred years; it's always been there, and nobody was 'axing the tax' prior to 2010. I think part of the problem was how the whole issue was communicated.
"By and large, most people expect they have to pay some kind of land and building taxes, but what they felt was the last legislation probably may have been a little bit heavy-handed, and so they rebelled against it," he said.
Howai is clear that his duty is to get Trinidad and Tobago's economy growing again, even if that means he'll have to take some tough decisions.
"It is certainly a tremendous responsibility to move the economy forward," he said,
Howai understands he has come into the job with great expectations. The business community welcomed his appointment as did former colleagues in the banking sector and, most recently, the outgoing governor of the Central Bank, Ewart Williams.
Howai acknowledges, however, that transforming the economy is certainly not an individual effort. It will also likely entail the population making some sacrifices.
"I think everyone agrees the problems are manifest and obvious. Where they might disagree is how much of a contribution they have to make to adjust to achieve where we want to be.
"It will take some measure of goodwill on the part of everyone; perhaps I need to start speaking in terms of a longer horizon, instead of just an annual budget, because if people think they have to give up something, but they understand they are not the only ones to (make that sacrifice), and it's done equitably, then people will be more likely to agree.
"They mightn't be happy, but at the end of the day, the aim is a more developed country where we can all live comfortably," he said.
To that end, the country should expect a cut-back on the prolific Government spending on transfers and subsidies—including the $4 billion fuel subsidy.
"Transfers have become a major issue for us. Those transfers include not just individual subsidies but also to State enterprises which may be inefficient. That is definitely an area we have to look at, but I can't look at it collectively; we have to break it down into its component parts and figure out how we are going to deal with it," he said, adding a statement will be made about both issues in the Budget.
He also noted that while Trinidad and Tobago does have a high social spending bill, "there are very good reasons why governments try to shelter people at the lowest end of the scale—those who are old, infirm, incapacitated and so on. Government needs to play a role in sheltering that part of the pop, so, yes, you have to give consideration to that".
Before entering the world of politics, Howai, who trained as an economist at the University of the West Indies (UWI), was a banker for 32 years, the last 15 of which were spent leading State-owned First Citizens.

[*$kїđž!™]

What a brilliant man.....Not taxing people is causing the state to lose revenue.....

Could this not be a brilliant statement.....In order to earn revenue we have to tax the masses.....

What brilliant thinking...Thats a real innovative idea.....

He sounding like a PNM.......

If this tax comes back then this govt has truly failed the people.....

Why the arse must I be taxed cause I work hard to earn a property>>>WTF!!!!!

[webb]

This so called government don't have a clue this doesnt surprise me the truth offends they lied they knew that only a matter of time that this property tax will be coming but wait gas sub will be gone too hold on......... but hey what do i know this governmet STEUPSSSS

[shaneelal]

To that end, the country should expect a cut-back on the prolific Government spending on transfers and subsidies—including the $4 billion fuel subsidy.

Brace for it, we can no longer live in a fantasy world.

[pete]

Yeah.. I've been feeling that would happen this year. Was looking to buy a pickup but holding off til after the budget yes.

[christopherwilliams2]

What's the cost of a CNG kit again?

[De Dragon]

This so called government don't have a clue this doesnt surprise me the truth offends they lied they knew that only a matter of time that this property tax will be coming but wait gas sub will be gone too hold on......... but hey what do i know this governmet STEUPSSSS

Learn to read and understand. Howai said some form of the Property Tax needs to be re-introduced. No one has paid ANY form of property tax for close to 3 years.Gas subsidy will hurt short term, but we need to start thinking medium to long term. It's not as if it will be gone one Budget to a next, NO Geoverment is that suicidal.

[De Dragon]

This so called government don't have a clue this doesnt surprise me the truth offends they lied they knew that only a matter of time that this property tax will be coming but wait gas sub will be gone too hold on......... but hey what do i know this governmet STEUPSSSS

Learn to read and understand. Howai said some form of the Property Tax needs to be re-introduced. No one has paid ANY form of property tax for close to 3 years.Gas subsidy will hurt short term, but we need to start thinking medium to long term. It's not as if it will be gone one Budget to a next, NO Goverment is that suicidal.

[pete]

WRT fuel subsidy.. what ya feel the new fuel prices would be?

Diesel - $3
Super - $3.50
Premium - $4.50?

[nemisis]

WRT fuel subsidy.. what ya feel the new fuel prices would be?

Diesel - $3
Super - $3.50
Premium - $4.50?

don't matter once diesel gone up everything else gets an automatic price increase

[pete]

Everything won't double in price though.

I'd say 3-5% increase on goods. Maybe 15-25% transportation.

[altec]

why is watson duke promoting the reintroduction of the property tax?,,,,is it that he is of the opinion that the majority of his members would not be affected......or.......would he use it as another reason/excuse to demand higher salaries?

if everyone is taxed , their (Watson and his members)saleries could go up by...say 12000 a year. He is gambling on the fact that the p/tax would be way less than this, thus net increase paid to his members by everyone else

[Habit7]

I do believe property tax should be introduce to bring revenue into the teasury and to reduce the derelict properties that aesthetically scar our country.

I believe that the UNC and COP should apologise for taking a political stance rather than a national when they were not in gov't.

I believe maxis, taxis and legitimate transport vehicles to receive the subsidised diesel fuel prices. But personal use cars and pick-up trucks should pay a higher price.

[Dizzy28]

I do believe property tax should be introduce to bring revenue into the teasury and to reduce the derelict properties that aesthetically scar our country.

I believe that the UNC and COP should apologise for taking a political stance rather than a national when they were not in gov't.

I believe maxis, taxis and legitimate transport vehicles to receive the subsidised diesel fuel prices. But personal use cars and pick-up trucks should pay a higher price.

Not a bad idea but how do we police it. It already nigh impossible wrt to diesel bunkering.

[nemisis]

Everything won't double in price though.

I'd say 3-5% increase on goods. Maybe 15-25% transportation.

prices inflate and do not return to normalcy already without valid reason ( cement cough cough) so imagine how much it will increase when business have increase in transport and the associated ripple effects it will cause to blame.

[shaneelal]

I do believe property tax should be introduce to bring revenue into the teasury and to reduce the derelict properties that aesthetically scar our country.

I believe that the UNC and COP should apologise for taking a political stance rather than a national when they were not in gov't.

I believe maxis, taxis and legitimate transport vehicles to receive the subsidised diesel fuel prices. But personal use cars and pick-up trucks should pay a higher price.

Not a bad idea but how do we police it. It already nigh impossible wrt to diesel bunkering.

One option to regulate it, is to use something like a fleet card system, where the mileage and amount of diesel purchased can be recorded at time of purchase. All these vehicles would have to be inspected at least once a year where the reading on the Odometer will be verified. Of course there's always room for bobol and people messing with Odometer.

[*$kїđž!™]

LISTEN TO THIS ONE ...

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/_Ci ... 44786.html

Citizens eager to pay property tax'
By Carla Bridglal
Story Created: Jul 15, 2012 at 11:56 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jul 15, 2012 at 11:56 PM ECT
The population wants to pay land and building taxes, are demanding they be allowed to and are ashamed they cannot, Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal has said.
But not a tax regime like that proposed by the People's National Movement's Property Tax Act of 2009.
"Segments of the population are very eager to pay their land and building taxes, at all strata. The commitment was to axe the property tax, not to abolish land and building taxes, so the population itself is very eager to pay taxes for land and building. In fact, there are some people in the upper echelons of society in some of the more bourgeois areas who are almost ashamed they are not paying land and building tax, so people are demanding that we (bring back) land and building taxes, but not the oppressive one (like the PNM's)," Moonilal said.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Moonilal told the Express that even though the People's Partnership had campaigned on an "axe the tax" platform, the "axing" referred to the former Patrick Manning administration's 2009 Act, which, Moonilal said, the Partnership was vehemently against. "We did promise that we would revise the land and building taxes regime, so after two years it is possible to look at the current model and not the (PNM model) to see (what we can do)," Moonilal said.
Yesterday the Sunday Express reported Finance Minister Larry Howai admitting that the country was losing revenue because property taxes were not being collected. He said he would review the tax to consider how to make it more efficient, effective and equitable.
Moonilal, who is also Government Chief Whip in the House of Representatives, acknowledged that businesses and individuals had not been paying land and building taxes because of ongoing debates over the matter.
"Minister Howai is determined to bring some conclusion and look at a land and building tax regime, but certainly not a property tax regime (like the one) which we believed to have been authoritarian, dictatorial and oppressive," he said.
He said there was ongoing discussion among Parliament's Legislative Review Committee, the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Attorney General and other relevant departments to not only repeal the 2009 Act, but to reform and reintroduce a new land and building tax regime. He added that he hoped a conclusion would be met by September or October.
The Partnership's second largest member, the Congress of the People (COP), had launched the "Axe the Tax" campaign back in 2009/2010 to protest the Act. But it remained relatively mum on this development.
Attempts to reach Legal Affairs Minister and COP leader Prakash Ramadhar were unsuccessful. Vice-chairman of the party Vernon de Lima did say, in a brief telephone interview, however, that the party will "wait and see" what happens.
"You know the COP took a particular position on it, but to me (Howai's statement) was rather vague. If they do introduce or propose a tax, then the COP will definitely have an opinion to express," he said.

[Habit7]

[*$kїđž!™]

we should have a tuner poll to see who really yearing and wanting to pay property tax...as staed by our minister