Barbados Revenue Authority Issues Tax Return Notifications to Taxpayers; Opposition Senator Questions Government's Move
Barbados Revenue Authority notifies taxpayers to file outstanding tax returns for up to five years, with penalties and interest. Opposition Senator questions move, citing impact on non-residents, students, and low-income earners.
A large number of taxpayers have been receiving notification from the Barbados Revenue Authority over the past two weeks, requesting the filing of outstanding tax returns for up to five years. It also indicated the application of penalties for late filing as well as interest on any taxes due.
However, Opposition Senator Tricia Watson yesterday questioned Government’s rationale for the move and told the Senate taxpayers involved were “feeling threatened”. She urged Government senators to ask Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs Ryan Straughn “some questions” in the interest of affected taxpayers.
“Some of these people are not tax-resident in Barbados; some of them don’t have jobs; some of them are students who may have done some short stint and have gone back to school so they are not currently employed,” she said, adding that others were under the $25 000 tax threshold. (GC)
