GRENADA-Government issues stern warning to tax defaulters

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ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – The Grenada government is warning tax defaulters that there will be no mercy if they fail to take advantage of a tax amnesty that expires at the end of the year.

“I want to send this warning, as Minister of Finance, if I ever had the opportunity after this amnesty is over and there are people out there who have not taken advantage of this thing, I will have no mercy to enforce the law,” said Finance Minister Dennis Cornwall.

“Amnesty sometimes is good, but it’s not the ultimate solution to the problems we face in taxation. Some believe we can always fix the bill, put it that way, and not pay the tax.

“To some of us who don’t understand that government can sell your property, those properties that probably say you are going to hold for your kids down the road because you are trying to avoid paying tax,” he added.

Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell told Parliament on Tuesday that more than EC$777 million (One Ec dollar=US$0.37 cents) are owed in outstanding taxes, late fees, and penalties.

Under the Tax Administration Act, “If a person fails to pay tax when it is due, the Comptroller may commence proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover the debt.”

The House of Representatives Tuesday approved an amendment to the Tax Administration Act to provide for the amnesty period because the current legislation did not do so.

In December last year, Prime Minister Mitchell, while presenting the 2023 budget statement, announced the tax amnesty effective from January 1 to encourage citizens to pay up outstanding taxes dating back to 2021.

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