Michael Halkitis
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
AMID calls for the Christie administration to crack down on outstanding taxes, more than $550 million in Real Property Tax (RPT) over the last 30 years has gone uncollected, The Tribune can reveal.
According to documents obtained by this newspaper outlining RPT owed on commercial and owner occupied properties in addition to vacant land throughout the Bahamas, successive governments had failed to collect an astounding $557,844,377.12.
The amount breaks down to taxes valued at $391,729,530.57 coupled with $166,114,846.55 in penalties on the arrears accounts.
Of the ballpark figure, during 2004 to 2008 and 2009 to 2013, $111,520,979.25 and $239,316,140.71 was owed.
With the millions of dollars still overdue, State Finance Minister Michael Halkitis admitted yesterday, that while more than $500 million is a hefty sum to go after, the government simply does not have sufficient man power or equipment to control its level of tax collection.
And as he admitted that the government considers legal action as a last resort, Mr Halkitis described the option as a “double edged sword”. He said such aggressive action was sure to negatively impact the country’s social position, more specifically unemployment numbers.
“In the past,” Mr Halkitis said, “what has happened is that people would get a bill and no one would follow-up with them. And when we look at the number, we know that the record keeping system is flawed. Bills are undelivered, duplications etcetera. We know that so we have to refine that and clean up the system.
“During the last few years with the recession is that businesses made the decision that they will pay the other expenses and not pay their property taxes because of the hard times. We want to use it as a last resort. Any sort of legal action by taking people to court and seizing property.
“We have certain powers within the law as it stands now to do that only with vacant property where the treasurer is empowered after warning an individual. Only foreigners pay on vacant property. The law as it is now allows the treasurer to foreclose and take over vacant property for non payment.
“In terms of developed property we are not empowered within the Real Property Tax Act to foreclose. In order to do that then you would have to do another legal action.”
When asked why every government, not just the Christie administration has been slow to take tax dodgers to court, Mr Halkitis said “it was just a culture that has developed.”
For now, the government is encouraging those with accounts in arrears to make an effort to bring their accounts to current status. He insisted that officials were committed to pursuing back taxes, contrary to the opinions of political pundits. The government, Mr Halkitis explained has several initiatives in place as it attempts to collect any amount of the debt possible.
“What we are doing to do better at collections is we are purchasing a new satellite based system to make sure that we do a better job of moving forward with record keeping.
“We are also setting up a unit within real property taxes to follow up (and) to go behind delinquent payers to encourage them to do payment plans if they can’t do it all. We are actively encouraging them,” Mr Halkitis said.
Comments
TalRussell 10 years, 1 month ago
Even the most junior of reporters must recognize phoney talk when they hear it. What could possibly be behind the motivation that led to this Tribune reporter having left out the most important part of the story where Comrade Minister Michael actually uses all this information as a excuse to come to the defense of not firing "tax dodger" Ishmael?
JohnDoes 10 years, 1 month ago
Maybe these politicians should disclose their tax information to prove to us that they are paying taxes. They have to lead by example, how can Ishmael be owing 7000 one day and 110,000 then next ? It should be a standard for politicians/candidates to disclose most of their business as it relates to taxes, and business background for transparency purposes to avoid all this dishonest mix up, so that their is no secrecy and more credibility. The candidates in America have to do this in order to run. This government is full of loop holes. They have to lead by example, they cant expect us peasants to be taxed for everything if they are the leading tax dodgers.
economicproperity 10 years, 1 month ago
It is clear to me that the current economic and governmental system is not working for the majority of Bahamanians. The Bahamas has two of the greatest resources of any small country; tourism and banking. What other country has the same resources? U.A.E. The United Arab Emirates. But you say, “They have huge oil money”!! No they don’t. Look it up. They have used the small resources they have to plan big and draw billions in resources, borrowed from others, to create a perpetual nation of income from tourism and banking. They are planning for the next hundred years, not the next 4 or 6. Two men have run this country for the last 22 years! Are the Bahamian people ready for a businessman that is NOT from the Bahamas to SERVE this country and fix it, or are the people too fearful of an outsider? FREE AND FAIR, ISN’T THAT WE ALL WANT??? Will the Bahamian people let an outsider serve and manage this country? I need to know….
killemwitdakno 10 years, 1 month ago
Are you saying let the Sharia law people do it? who are you again?
economicproperity 10 years, 1 month ago
Hell no! Sharia law? They don't even have Sharia law in UAE. They are capitalists. They only care about money. My point is that they consulted with the right businessmen and created an economy that will last. (The only Muslim country to do so, the rest will be bankrupt when the oil runs out). I'm just an american interested in protecting one of the last pristine marine habitats in the world and I know the country can be wealthy if they accept that a businessman can serve a nation better than a politician can. Think about the crawfish trade. They get taken from Bahamian waters by a company and sold for $5. Instead, there should be NO commercial sale of any marine fishes or wildlife. How much will a tourist pay to catch that one lobster himself? 300 for a hotel, 500 for a plane ticket, 400 at local restauants,,, and so on. The impact of tourism and protection of natural resources will be lasting, but scoopig up all the animals in the ocean to sell for $5 each is an economic loss to the country and will deplete natural resources. The US already destroyed our coral reefs and now tourism suffers in South Florida because of it. Subsistance and recreational fishing can always be sustainable, commerical fishing robs the people of resources and money. I just think people need to think a little bigger and protect the country and create a sustainable economy in the process.
killemwitdakno 10 years, 1 month ago
Coral reef protection is one of my platform interests as well. But your statements are contradicting your point. You are still saying sell ourselves out like V.I and Puerto Rico. So far UAE gov owns a copy of our Atlantis (atlantis palm), which was partly owned by the guy who owned ours who did an undisclosed deal with them about the sale of ours here. Does undisclosed sound like respect. Does the opulent Dubai consider their vast poorest slums? Didn't they just dump some dukey ambulance gifts to us ( which gifts are always for an exchange , but since we got no info on any deal , we won't know if we were actually owed something better). Those things say "Donated By UAE" on the sides. It's advertisement to tourists here (second hand, not an infrastructure trade off to me). Same reason why the opposition party in their term had to go back to the Chinese who brought their workers in for Baha Mar (as they do around the globe) to get the stadium which was agreed on but not built since the current admin in their previous term weren't checking for the public's part of the deal.
As far as crawfish, I don't think the same consumer group ( people who buy the foreign companies' lobster supply at the grocery) will go on a trip just to catch a live lobster unless they're sportsmen. Check our lobster law http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpYtvN...">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpYtvN.... The girlfriend is being taken care of more than UAE would do. There is a home grown place right in Freeport making 1million in profits stocking fresh seafood in popular US chains. I'm a concerned person living away as well, but if anyone suggests that the recently wealthiest predominantly black country (gpd per capita) which coordinated it's independence, and had it's slavery chronicled whilst black americans were still enslaved , should give up, I'd would rightly have to tell them to go somewhere.
See the following: “We’re going to establish a Sharia Law fund that will be familiar to Arabs and Muslims,” http://www.tribune242.com/news/2013/n..." rel="nofollow">http://www.tribune242.com/news/2013/n... Doing things with our current administration (whom is our worst electable option) in the dark. http://www.thenassauguardian.com/inde...">http://www.thenassauguardian.com/inde...
Kerzner Hands Atlantis Bahamas to Brookfield, Palm to Dubai http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04...">http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04... O and anyone working with Goldman Sachs who was able to profit from the collapse in subprime mortgage bonds in the summer of 2007 by short-sellingsubprime mortgage-backed securities (which I'm sure you know very well or even felt the effects of their scheme) probably shouldn't be trusted.
Guess again or Maybe assist this guy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H0IOl...">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H0IOl... He's preventing cargo oil spills. Thanks for your observation and sharing.
(how is it subsistance fishing if it cost 300 for a hotel, 500 for a plane ticket, 400 at local restaurants.)
killemwitdakno 10 years, 1 month ago
Hell with the parallels you mentioned and the current oil explorations underway, they might already be in our biz claiming stake. Can't let a cheaper alternative right next to America into the loop. We don't even need oil ourselves, the first worlders who can afford renewable energy better get to it.
Guy 10 years, 1 month ago
In other words: "We dont have the resources or manpower to collect half a billion of outstanding taxes, so we believe the next best strategy is to implement a new tax and ignore the old one. We believe forcing people to pay their taxes on real property will have social implications and will impact employment, so we will go with taxing their food and haircuts at the barber instead...because surely that doesn't impact the poor as much".
These guys are a complete joke!
JohnDoes 10 years, 1 month ago
Manpower? We have thousands without jobs, that can be manpower there, but then again, we aint got no money to pay them and minimum wage in this day and age is a joke. They should just say They aint got no money instead of blaming the people and taxing them for every little thing, we are already spending double on what a product is actually worth and they also want to tax.
GrassRoot 10 years, 1 month ago
no money? 550 MM is no money? well probably its not. your right, like the receivables at BEC, its only book money. Here's the idea, Hire 200 people to collect taxes, pay them minimum wage and promise them a bonus if they reach certain goals. That feeds to the Bahamalanders soul.
proudloudandfnm 10 years, 1 month ago
Well thank you for that Mr. Halkitis. From this point on I will not pay a dime in property taxes ever again. I will also not pay VAT. And I will look for ways now to avoid duty as well. Might as well since....
the government simply does not have sufficient man power or equipment to control its level of tax collection.
B_I_D___ 10 years, 1 month ago
I keep reading this crap and wonder if they even realize what words they are spewing out of their mouths...very distressing to see how they are just going to brush it off and ignore it. RPT on my home will be in the neighbourhood of $12,000 this year...scares the crap out of me as to how I am going to pay it...guess I should just not bother apparently. Thank you Mr. Halkitis...after all, I am enduring some hardships and will be unable to pay my just due taxes. According to your logic...and everyone else in government...BOTH FNM and PLP...we won't be coming after you anyways...and legal action is always the very last resort...so hey...I'm cool!!
B_I_D___ 10 years, 1 month ago
“In terms of developed property we are not empowered within the Real Property Tax Act to foreclose.”
When asked why every government, not just the Christie administration has been slow to take tax dodgers to court, Mr Halkitis said “it was just a culture that has developed.”
JohnDoes 10 years, 1 month ago
They bit their own tongue dishing out excuse after excuse. They just solidified the reason as to why we should not pay taxes.
realfreethinker 10 years, 1 month ago
The more these guys open their mouths the deeper their foot go in it. These guys cant be serious. And these are the type of people spending our money and run our country. WOW
Honestman 10 years, 1 month ago
"With the millions of dollars still overdue, State Finance Minister Michael Halkitis admitted yesterday, that while more than $500 million is a hefty sum to go after, the government simply does not have sufficient man power or equipment to control its level of tax collection."
Am I missing something here? If government collects even a fraction of the outstanding taxes the revenue will more than pay for the cost of additional resources and equipment needed to pursue it. What a totally lame mindset.
TalRussell 10 years, 1 month ago
PLP Cabinet members, MP's and concerned Party Members must already be feeling powerful signs of the foundation of their 2012 mandate starting to pull away from under them?. Comrades it pains me deeply say it but many Bahamalander's are beginning to think the fall of this PLP government is imminent. Whether it is in the next few months is uncertain but this cabinet shouldn't be too surprised if they lose control of the government before the end of their five-year mandate. I mean every word I just typed. No apology. No second thought.
B_I_D___ 10 years, 1 month ago
It's crazy Tal...I mean I know I am a bit skewed being more red than yella'...but it just keeps getting worse and worse and worse, and their mindset about it is is abominable. Heaven help them if they actually put their heads together and came up with a new way of thinking and revolutionized how governing is done and pave the way for the future generations through GOOD governance. Instead, they are looking out for themselves and their own and will BLATANTLY dodge paying taxes...then want to tax the people who will pay more. There is gonna be hell to pay, that is for sure.
jlcandu 10 years, 1 month ago
Just say No to VAT!!! This is sickening that the government wants to tax the poor for rich tax dodging criminals!!!
If they don't have the resources, etc. to collect RPT, how in God's name do they propose collecting VAT???
2017 can't come soon enough!!!
Honestman 10 years, 1 month ago
Unfortunately, it is not in the mindset of the PLP to relinquish power prematurely. Despite the complete sow's ear they are making of governing The Bahamas, I predict the party will cling to power until the last day of its five year term. PGC and the cabinet know that they have no hope of being re-elected - unfortunately that will only cause them to pursue their own interests with even more gusto before the electorate gets the chance to punish them at the ballot box. A dying regime that has a selfish and vindictive mindset is always dangerous and I fear the damage that might be done to The Bahamas these next three years. I would be delighted to be proved wrong but with the PLP's track record in government, I just don 't see it. This country needs the hope of a new party energized by fresh young leaders of vision and integrity who will put self interest and egos aside and make decisions for the good of the country. The thought of another Christie v Ingraham election campaign is just too painful to contemplate
Guy 10 years, 1 month ago
Haven't you seen the proposal? Poor people will pay VAT or have the law dropped on them like a ton of bricks. Meanwhile, the rich and astute crowd can pay their RPT if they have wish to, or not pay it at all. I am absolutely mortified to read what I have just read as being quoted by the Finance Minister of State.
killemwitdakno 10 years, 1 month ago
Say No to what? Is there a referendum going on somewhere?
Honestman 10 years, 1 month ago
Unfortunately, it is not in the mindset of the PLP to relinquish power prematurely. Despite the complete sow's ear they are making of governing The Bahamas, I predict the party will cling to power until the last day of its five year term. PGC and the cabinet know that they have no hope of being re-elected - unfortunately that will only cause them to pursue their own interests with even more gusto before the electorate gets the chance to punish them at the ballot box. A dying regime that has a selfish and vindictive mindset is always dangerous and I fear the damage that might be done to The Bahamas these next three years. I would be delighted to be proved wrong but with the PLP's track record in government, I just don 't see it. This country needs the hope of a new party energized by fresh young leaders of vision and integrity who will put self interest and egos aside and make decisions for the good of the country. The thought of another Christie v Ingraham election campaign is just too painful to contemplate.
TalRussell 10 years, 1 month ago
Comrade Honestman who again I say is an honest blogger. I do pray you are not thinking this new party is to be lead by a seat-less, unelectable leader with a mentality to call for the public flogg'in to be staged in Rawson Square which is bound to become an instant world-wide reaching social networking postcard tourist photo tak'in attraction. Or, maybe you're asking for the return of party who held on to the very last day of its electoral mandate, before they too would rung the general election bell? May I suggest this whole political party and British colony hold-over mentality business needs to e dished for good?
JohnDoes 10 years, 1 month ago
Tal you can ease up off the public floggin, Right now I think Bran would smartly implement the death penalty to supercede is hasty floggn remarks. Public flogging in front of rawson square is a bio-hazard and thats when youll see the UN invading our country for 'proper' control. Brans remarks were irresponsible at the time, but honestly when it all comes down to paper and implementation he will humanely have second thoughts.. the risk is too great vs. the reward.
B_I_D___ 10 years, 1 month ago
That's the scary part as well Tal...most definitely the PLP needs to go...and quickly...but I do not think the FNM are solidified enough and have their power base where it needs to be...as for the DNA I don't know if they are the perfect fit either. so we are dealing with 3 BAD choices right now.
Reality_Check 10 years, 1 month ago
THE ADMISSIONS HERE BY HALKITIS COMBINED WITH THE DEAFENING SILENCE OF THE PM (WHO IS ALSO THE MINISTER OF FINANCE) CLEARLY ESTABLISH THE GROUNDS FOR A PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE KNOWN AS A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE. BOTH THE PLP AND FNM GOVERNMENTS ALIKE HAVE FAILED THE BAHAMIAN PEOPLE. ALL OF THIS INSIDIOUS TAX CORRUPTION TOOK PLACE UNDER THE LIKES OF HUBERT INGRAHAM, BILL ALLEN, PERRY CHRISTIE AND JAMES SMITH. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR YEARS OF FAILED TAX COLLECTION POLICIES AS A RESULT OF THEIR WILLINGNESS TO TURN A BLIND EYE TO THE TAX CORRUPTION NOW INGRAINED IN THE CULTURE OF MOST POLITICIANS AND THEIR BUSINESS CRONIES LIKE "SNAKE" AND SO MANY MORE LIKE HIM. INGRAHAM, CHRISTIE, ALLEN AND SMITH MUST SOMEHOW BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR COMPLICITY IN CRIMES AGAINST THE STATE THAT HAVE ROBBED THE BAHAMIAN PEOPLE OF THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE. WE NEED A COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY HEADED BY SUITABLY QUALIFIED AND INDEPENDENT FOREIGN COMMISSIONS APPOINTED BY AN EXTERNAL BODY TO GATHER THE EVIDENCE AND LAY THE GROUND WORK FOR THE CRIMINAL CHARGES TO BE HEARD BY AN INTERNATIONAL COURT.
TalRussell 10 years, 1 month ago
Comrades I truly believe every citizen should register to vote and show up to mark their X for their candidate of choice. Lets facilitate all voters to vote in the by elections and general elections, by starting a partition requiring the Electoral Registrar to also print a space on the each Ballot allowing voters to mark their X for "NON OF THE ABOVE'
B_I_D___ 10 years, 1 month ago
Now THAT's a scary thought there Tal...can you imagine? What the heck would happen if the majority voted 'none of the above'...I'd happily place my X there...but what if it did happen...do you just keep going with the status quo? Maybe what we need to do is instead of 'none of the above'...switch it to be...PLP...FNM...DNA...the United Kingdom...have a majority vote to be repatriated back with the Crown...ROTFL
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 1 month ago
I'd go with that. I said sometime back that we need to turn this country over to some EXTERNAL experts, not forever, just to get us out of this muck and mire that PGC, BD, BJN, Shane Gibson and Bradley Roberts are dragging us into. These guys are making crazy decisions and there's not much we can do about it. It would take every citizen to leave their job and have a national boycott in front of parliament to be rid of the likes of this bumbling cronyistic lot. They're not going to have a vote of no confidence because they realize their gravy train would end too.
killemwitdakno 10 years, 1 month ago
"Turn this country over to some External experts" No. There's too may "parties" out in the world waiting for their chance to get a hold of governments. Then the US will only intervene and we'd be added to their territory. Citizen101 NEVER let randomers take over your country. unless maybe Bermuda or Antigua has somebody.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 1 month ago
I get your point but who do you think is running the country now? These are a bunch of "random" men. They are not leaders, they are not strategists, they are not intellectuals, they are not statesmen, they are not ombudsmen, they are not planners. They are none of the things are country needs to extract itself from the quagmire we are in. They are just individuals each with a personal agenda of creating shell companies, grabbing as many contracts for themselves and enriching themselves. That's what we have. That's why the country is going to hell right now. That's why Saunders beach suddenly looks like an unkempt Serengeti . These men need to go. We need ethical, experts, statesmen to chart a new direction. I don't care if they're foreign
TheMadHatter 10 years, 1 month ago
"the government simply does not have sufficient man power or equipment"
LOL. Just amend the Law providing a single exception (in the collection of taxes) to Attorneys to earn 10% of whatever they are able to collect. Then you'll see some action quick and fast without costing the Government any money.
Unfortunately, the Law prevents all attorneys from working ANY matter on a commission basis and also from advertising what services they provide in any advertising format. For example, if you want to know whether a particular Firm can help you with divorce - the only way to find out is to call them directly and ask. Any document which states that they perform divorces is evidence of an illegal act (possibly on their part, unless the advertiser printed it for them for free without their knowledge or consent).
TheMadHatter
ohdrap4 10 years, 1 month ago
remember, they fired the nib guy who collected the most of all
killemwitdakno 10 years, 1 month ago
that was only after he did something else they didn't like.
jackbnimble 10 years, 1 month ago
When are we going to wake up? All of these fools in Parliament and NOBODY can come up with a better system to collect real property taxes? And yet they seek to implement more? This defies imagination. Whether is it is a "culture which has developed" or not, the point is, it can be amended. Take the egg off your face and pass or amend the law to fix it!
B_I_D___ 10 years, 1 month ago
AHhh...but you see...they are ALL dodging it...probably going back to Pindling himself. Why do you think there are so many derelict properties out there...they probably owe so much in RPT that is it not worth their while to sell the property...just let it fall into disrepair and decay. Wonder if Tiger and all those other croonies ever paid their RPT. Living high on the hog, but not paying a dime of what they need to. Better jump off those millions they have stashed away and pay what is legally required of you to do so!! I've been stupid enough to pay them all these years...think I'll stop...maybe buy myself a nice boat with the money I am able to save not paying the government my taxes!!
The_Oracle 10 years, 1 month ago
Firstly, this uncollected tax foolishness is endemic and widespread. It also shows we are living a fools dream, not paying the proper costs for that which we have, be it business license, duty, property taxes and power & water bills. Heaping VAT on top of this deplorable situation is lunacy. This is a Bahamian problem, no matter party affiliation. In fact, party affiliation is the root of the problem! Cure this issue, and all the other leakage before implementing yet another uncontrollable noncollectable tax. Government has got to break with this fools paradise of being the provider of all, and go back to being lawful and consistent, and use the courts! Also hire foreign property value assessors if it is as it seems, Bahamian assessors cannot be trusted!
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 1 month ago
"we are living a fools dream, not paying the proper costs for that which we have"
Exactly. Shane Gibson's statement yesterday was open admission of that. Someone for example gets into power, takes bribes under the table, directs contracts their way and starts to live high on the hog off of stolen money. When they get kicked out of office for said thievery, and the stolen money is no longer flowing, suddenly we must have pity on them because, everybody falls on hard times.
TheMadHatter 10 years, 1 month ago
Since everyone mentioning VAT - let me say that the only bad part about VAT is that the illegal immigrants will be exempt from it.
Government (in the proposed VAT law) have already exempted all the items that illegals buy.
Wonder why that is. Maybe I need to burn my passport and take advantage of the slackness?
TheMadHatter
killemwitdakno 10 years, 1 month ago
They already did it before. Explain how what they are spending now is any better than the rate they were spending before they left in 07.
voltairehumor 10 years, 1 month ago
smaller the government the better for the bahamas
GrassRoot 10 years, 1 month ago
Please, please, pay your taxes..... "For now, the government is encouraging those with accounts in arrears to make an effort to bring their accounts to current status" - cool. We know the result of that approach.
B_I_D___ 10 years, 1 month ago
Nah...til I see some responsibility from those that want to increase my taxes by paying their taxes and leading by example...that's it...I'm not paying mine...made my decision. If and when they all settle up in full, I shall do the same.
TalRussell 10 years, 1 month ago
Comrade BID don't be so quick to dismiss my suggestion for Bahamalander's being allowed to mark their X's for "None of the Above" candidates. This change to the voting act would not be the same as you abstaining from voting or spoiling your ballot, cause you are actually allowing voter participating when any Bahamalander on voting day would be constitutionally charged, if they so choose, to freely cast a vote of "no confidence in ALL of the above candidates. Can you think of a more embarrassing defeat than to have been defeated under such a democratic voting system?
B_I_D___ 10 years, 1 month ago
I understand that completely...but what happens when all 3...4...5...however many parties in total fielded candidates in the last election are ALL defeated by a vote of no confidence in any of them...where does that leave the country...just asking. I'm thinking the 'none' X has a good chance of winning if an election was called here and now...but what would happen...
killemwitdakno 10 years, 1 month ago
The police is left. Or some fuck agenda party persuades the people. Recent examples: Taliban, Egypt's Muslim brotherhood, paid puppets, US invasion or US donated leader like they sent to Haiti, UN, world bank pressure for whatever crap they need us to comply with. We have our own grabbers controlling enough now with means to do more (Has no one been watching how this happens around the globe...pay attention..hell turn on the news now )
TalRussell 10 years, 1 month ago
Bran's greens were the real beneficiary of the protest votes in 2012. Comrade I think you're still looking at a vote for "None Of The Above" candidates as a protest vote. Bahamalander's would have freely exercised their democratic right not to vote for none of the above. I will go out on a limb and say that, had the electorate been presented with the opportunity to vote for none of the above candidates, the greens would not have even registered on the voter results radar.
killemwitdakno 10 years, 1 month ago
Are write ins honored?
B_I_D___ 10 years, 1 month ago
No...any other mark with the exception of an 'X' in the boxes provided invalidates that vote.
John 10 years, 1 month ago
What is the difference between a tax dodger and someone who has fallen into hard times and cannot pay their taxes? How many tax delinquent properties are in foreclosure? And that will be the problem with VAT. Many businesses will collect VAT but will not have the funds to pay to government when the time comes because their operating expenses will eat up the funds. Many businesses are operating at a loss and you can tell by the number of times BEC has to disconnect them. With the recession many business owners are having to put money into their business monthly, quarterly or annually to keep them afloat. Most of this is borrowed money they will have to pay back. Fortunately for most Bahamians they are exempt from property taxes because their homes are valued less than $250,000.00. But government could try being more active in following up and trying to get people to pay their taxes, before they take more drastic action. The time to really be aggressive in tax collection is when the economy is robust.
TalRussell 10 years, 1 month ago
Tell me something, if you bought and paid for a piece of land but the taxes were never paid by the previous land owner, do you really own title to ya piece of land, which is free and clear of any and all encumbrances? Isn't it the government you must go to for recording ownership of your land? Why would government permit a new owner of land to record a new land title if there are delinquent taxes roistered against the property? Why would the government grant you permission to transfer ownership/use your property (land title) if you ain't paid ya property taxes up to date? Lord knows there are lots pieces land in Bahamaland, ya might think ya owns and paid for years ago, all done through lawyers, abut the reality is you still ain't own no title to no land. Ya little piece land might not even be worth the price of the paper, with government stamps and all, it written on. Let's hear from some (honest) practicing real estate lawyers? Even some banks holding your deeds for loans extended that ain't worth dick.
B_I_D___ 10 years, 1 month ago
It's not free and clear...to be free and clear all property taxes must be paid on the property before you get good title...if they prove the previous owner did not pay, your claim on that property is not valid!! If your lawyer signed off on the paperwork without doing the due diligence and research on the title then your lawyer should be brought up before the courts for putting you in a legal jeoperdy of sorts.
JohnDoes 10 years, 1 month ago
and therefore we, the hard working, slaved peoples must suffer for their inability to collect taxes and avoid this whole VAT foolishness. They are looking to raise 200m from VAT with 500+m in outstanding taxes. The PLP missed the train since Pindlings retirement and ever since they have been hijacking rides to the crumbling destination.
ohdrap4 10 years, 1 month ago
As i said before. I will not patronize any business unless i know their VAT is up to date. I will ask and demand it. I will go pay higher prices at supervalue if i have too, cause i don't think they will allow supervalue to owe bills. I am now investigating which insurance companies i need to change my business too.. I will also stop eating at restaurants and hotels.
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