The private sector is expressing concern that it is owing the government of Dominica over $100-million dollars in unpaid taxes.
In a recent pre-budget consultation held with Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, it was revealed that sector owes the government EC$106-million.
Skerrit, who is also Finance Minister, told the consultation that the government is willing to develop payment plans including concessions on interest and penalties for offending businesses which might approach them in this regard, if they are serious about settling their debts.
“The Private Sector is concerned about this indebtedness and wishes to publicly impress upon its citizenry that all efforts must be made to pay taxes owed to the Government,” a joint release from various members of the sector said.
The private sector recommended that the government use its influence to affect repayment policies which put pressure on start-up businesses during the first five critical years of operation.
At the consultation, it was also revealed that corporate taxes paid in by compliant businesses to the Government between 2009 and 2012 fell by approximately EC$9-million or 30 percent (from 31.3 million in 2009 to 22.3 million in 2012).
According to the release, the statistics reflect the “losses under which businesses are operating” in Dominica.
Concerns were also raised by the private sector about the Value Added Tax (VAT) “on the manufacturing sector and on the service charge of the tourism industry, which are export driven and remain uncompetitive in price.”
Hotel and tourism representatives suggested to the government that while the increase in export-ready room stock was welcomed, “it was important to ensure that the management-investors in these additional rooms would have significant marketing resources in order to avoid negatively affecting existing accommodation providers and current employment.”
Give caesar what belongs to caesar just as the Lord says…Every country to go to depend on the taxes in order to function. I really do not understand you guys. how you expect the country to function without paying taxes? NO COUNTRY CAN SURVIVE WITHOUT PAYING TAXES!!!! woaw!!!!!!They have to pay up. They are deducting this taxes from the paychecks. That is your money, my money that you pay to the government. You guys are saying after they pay you guys, they should take some out for themselves. Common sense, ladies and gentlemen…..COMMEN SENCE!!!!!!
Why don’t the Government take them (Private Sector) to court for the taxes and easy up on VAT so people can live comfortable the Government raising taxes on the poor while the rich living a privilege life so not fair
every working citizens have to pay taxes. it starts in the bible n will continue throughout life. if u dont pay ur tax in america, u either lost ur business to the gov’nt or go to jail. so pay ur tax…….
the govt need to do smething with them if you owe a dollar in the usa they will hunt you down let every one pay thie tax not one set!
I’m still at a loss as to what exactly is meant by “taxes”. If it is that the private sector is with holding taxes on income deducted from employees, then those taxes should be paid without delay as it has implications for those employees concerned. It is very revealing though, that the gov’t has noticed a 30% reduction in corporation tax. What does that say about the state of the economy? Can we conclude that those businesses which are in default may very well be doing a service to the government by continuing to remain open thereby providing jobs to persons who would otherwise be unemployed?
I don’t have a scientific comment but to me it seems like the government is squeezing consumers through the VAT which reduces their expendable income so they buy less which reduces the flow of money in the economy and and now they want to squeeze business who make less money but do them a favor by collecting their VAT. Hmmmmm…I dowe know what to say nuh…
Chinie doesnt give me receipt, they paying nah? Local businesses suffering in d/ca, chinie store tht making money, besides it do hav much to spend country bankcupt, tings tight…
Why would any country allow its prime minister to also serve as its finance minister? Conflict of interest perhaps? Wake up people, what your telling me is that no other Dominican is capable of being elected to this position. If you control the finance you control everything. Quit sewo-ing and pay attention to your politics people. The minister of finance should be a position voted on by both parties and a thorough investigation from an outside source should be conducted on that appointee background. Transperacy should be disclosed on all government dealings.
This $106 million is a sham. Who is owing? How many of the businesses are dead? Shut down? Broke? Pa ni lagent? If the government is serious about the private sector owing money they would have done something.
Every single private business, except the few favoured, is going through hells. So they’ll take a loan to pay tax?
Skerrit knows that his policies have killed Dominican business and all this talk about taxes in arrears is just a diversion. The budget is in crisis, no sources of revenue so he creates a new scapegoat.
Blood sucking government. Somehow it doesn’t occur to most people (because they are already brainwashed and conditioned from birth) that there shouldn’t even be any taxes. Taxes are a burden to the people and the economy so that the “rulers” can lord over the people. Remember the Jesus story? The problem is that most people don’t know history or if they do, they can’t connect the dots. Taxes keep people poor. and under government control. Besides that, a small government, without so many civil servants, makes for a free market with more jobs and more money flow.
People have the misconception that the government uses the tax money to repair and construct roads and to protect the public. Really? Take a look around. How many fixed roads (without loans from the Chinese) and sidewalks in good repair do you see? How many police protecting the public and their property? Really? Is that why so many people have burglar bars, security personnel and steel gates? Wake up people….you aren’t getting your money’s worth. Governments punish people that have initiative and maintain private business’……that is unless they are in bed with them.
DA used to be productive and in the green. There is no reason under the right leadership why that can’t happen again. However, you had better change the school system here back to the way it was when the British were here. No more electronic dependency
You can take this discussion in numerous ways but the fact is that Corruption is what the real problem is. While those in charge are corrupt and their wives are getting duty free on infiniti they pressing local business and the Chinese not even giving You receipt so how they going to know how much they owe?meantime back at the ranch the politicians have all the US dollars in the Cayman banks!Sacre Hypocrit zoh yeh!
i would love to pay taxes and i do but why pay them if all they do is build mansions and pay chinese,im a dominican and if my taxes were put to good use i would gladly pay even more than i have too,but the oppisite is true,,,,,,my goverment do your job the right way and we will play by the rules,,,end of story
It’s me again and you all talking about vat so what in The U.s.A they majority of people pay tax on groceries but guess what ? By the end of the day must pay IRS their taxes I got a small job my check sometimes $260 /320 every two weeks got car load ,light bill which is ridiculously high in the V.I, ,got internet house phone bill plus cell phone bill and not forgetting rent plus car insurance but thank God no water bill to pay so do your math do you think I can tell the government I got all these bills to pay and I’m not paying yell no as a matter of fact I don’t even have a choice by paying my taxes because it will automatically come out my check unless I’m working for someone under the table who won’t pay tax for me which is illegal besides taxes is not only for the government it is part of helping pay civil servant talking care of the roads etc so you see people its very important to pay your taxes as good citizens
Accept my deepest sympathies on your pay check and finacial woes. However learn to read and understand… There’s a huge difference between Private Citizens(home owners, employees) and the Private Sector( business owners-non govermental). The people owing the taxes are the latter-business people. You don’t need the internet, you need a book and comprehension lessons.
That is your business with your small job/check/IRS and all your debt you have on your back riding you! Who told you Dominicans aren’t paying their taxes? I seriously doubt based on your stated earnings you are paying any taxes and if you do, it’s a guarantee you get a refund at the end of tax filing so have a seat. This is about business places refusing to pay taxes, not Dominicans as in regular working people from whom the taxes,SS etc are deducted before they get paid.
You staying in it for a reason
The migration rate of Dominica tell’s a chilling tale…
You are Staying in it for a reason…
They migration rate of Dominica tells a chilling tale.
we have to owe the state because the tourist who come in once a year every season get duty free while the hard working people of this country pay all the taxes it feel like the country is on Dominican back so people let,s start lifting to carry Dominica I wonder how far she will go got bless uDdominica becaue all the tax money is to floorish them our roads are bad in Fond cole Glassgow road no help .
Duty free amounts to almost nothing….try 4=5%.
Blue girl don’t bite the hand that’s feeds you. Don’t blame the tourist put blame to your government that excludes its people when jobs are available. Then on the same hand expect them to pay taxes on unpaid wages. Next time you see any construction on a stadium, roads etc ask yourself how many of your country people are being employed?
You do not sound like someone who know why taxes are paid or how they are paid. You need to inform yourself about this.
I don’t think you understand how that kind of duty free works. It works _because_ they aren’t citizens. It’s a very common practice.
Come on u lawless people why is it so hard to pay ur taxes. It’s only Dominica you all can do this crap I’m sure if you all travel to the U.S.A you all will pay your taxes
To the IRS and its no if or buts it don’t matter how small your pay checks you must pay tax and if you own a house or properties you working or not working have nothing to do with the government you must pay tax or eventually your house and properties will be taken from you and ask for you business owners leave in the U.S.A and owe a business and saying you not paying your taxes and you will see what happens .I will rest my case food for thought .It’s only the Dominica government you all can do that to and get away with it you all are to lucky to be paying so little tax and you all still refusing to pay your tax you all don’t want to pay your taxes and when you all finish you want to blame the government and say they don’t do anything for the country well little do you know that tax that you all will be paying would help the country financially but that same tax you all don’t want to pay to your country go take residency in the USA and as long as you are a legal Immigrant will will be paying taxes so render unto Caesar’s what belongs to him I personally think I personally think that the Dominican government is taking these taxes that are not being payed to lightly
Come on u lawless people why is it so hard to pay ur taxes. It’s only Dominica you all can do this crap I’m sure if you all travel to the U.S.A you all will pay your taxes
To the IRS and its no if or buts it don’t matter how small or post checks you must pay tax and if you own a house or properties you working or not working have nothing to do with the government you must pay tax or eventually you house and properties will be taken from you and ask coy you business owners leave in the U.S.A and owe a business and saying you not paying your taxes and you will see what happens .I will rest my case food for thought .It’s only the Dominica government you all can do that and get away with it you all are to lucky to be paying so little tax and you all still refusing to pay your tax you all don’t want to pay type taxes and when you all finish you want to blame the government and say they don’t do anything for the country well little do you know that tax that you all be paying would help the country financial so that same tax you all don’t want to pay to your country go take residency in the USA and as long as you are a legal Immigrant will will be paying taxes so render unto Caesar’s what belongs to him
You mean to the mafia bank cabal. IRS is a foreign entity, not the U.S. Treasury.
Out of that amount OF 106 Million,i wonder how much a particular business in town is owing.
The Inland Revenue Division is afraid of this particular business, because of one person (a man who must have eaten or must have drunk something when he was young, since it seems that he is now going mad).
All the other businesses should do like this one.
WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS GOOD FOR THE GANDER!
“The private sector recommended that the government use its influence to affect repayment policies which put pressure on start-up businesses during the first five critical years of operation.” I mean really??????? sorry but I firmly reject that proposal…….it is a FACT that the majority of that Tax amount is owed by the so called big businesses in Dominica those “elite” sic* Go and police yourselves and leave people who not part of that bad payment record that you all have racked. Leave people who have just started businesses in Dominica and are here to truly contribute to the development of Dominica……..
Businesses are deducting tax from the salaries of their workers and not paying it in to the Inland Revenue and the Inland Revenue goes after the workers for the tax money claiming it is the worker who is responsible for paying his/her tax while allowing the businesses to keep the money deducted from the worker for themselves.
Why Dominicans refusing to contribute to their country without contributing the country will remain behind,The reason why our country still behind a country will not develop if citizens fail to contribute.
Taxes are the reason that it remains behind.
how u expect us to pay when u have VAT and tax on every thing by the time we get paid we broke,$100 use to be so much money,now as u break it,finish hmmmmmmmm
Open your eyes and your mind wider to understand why you must pay taxes. You cannot expect people in other countries to pay taxes, and some of these taxes are sent here to help your country and we just go on year round having a good time and refuse to pay our taxes. give unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.
WHy are they impressing so much on the start up businesses? Let’s hope that they are referring to the New Foreign influx who don’t like to give receipts at cash register. Tally up on a calculator and then open the cash draw to give change and say no refunds on goods bought.
From now on I will ask for a receipt whenever I purchase any items just to see if I was charged tax especially in the Chinese establishment we all know they are not paying tax and that is wrong tax cannot be only on the backs of D’icans so why is the PM allowing that to happen what did he sign up for in the M.O.U agreement with China we still dont know.
Tax help the Island to function so why do we pay people to do their jobs and by the sound of what the PM is saying they are not doing the work why dont we give the jobs to those people out here especailly who are trained in accounting and who is willing to put the Island first I’m sure their are a lot of them wake up and smell the coffee D’icans we need help we need to be collecting all outstanding dues if we have to hire a good Collection Agency to get on top of things starting with the PM and friends so be it. NO MORE HAND OUTS TO FRIENDS AND FAMILIES!.
We also know some of the businesses cannot pay what they owe because things are so bad people dont have money to spend so business can get a return which they would need to pay their tax .
They cannot pay but can live in big mansions, drive expensive cars, enjoy vacations overseas every year and the business still running year after year, after year? They collect from customers whatever the business is. If things were so bad, for so long they would shut down the business. You collect, you pay or SHUT DOWN.
You have a choice. You don’t have to buy from such people. I always insist on a receipt, regardless. Put your foot down and demand your rights instead of complaining on DNO.
I understand that there are some big hotel owners and other business people who haven’t paid a dime to the aid bank on the millions they lent, crying broke evryday yet driving SUVs and it’s only the little man who the banks coming after if they fail to meet one orv two months loan payment. Shouldn’t some of these properties be seized (like they do overseas) and give the opportunity to other Diminicans to take over and try running those businesses? Just thinking……
THANK YOU.
how many of these people who make up the 106 million debt have already passed awa?
What about the VAT Dominicans paying on old stock they had before the Vat was implemented, can they claim for it?
See Skerro we told you they are the ones to ask to pay off their debt, but no you come blasting Dominicans when you knew exactly who owing the state. Keep the pressure on them, make them pay and remove that injuction your people have on IRD so they can be audited and pay up. They alone maybe have a cool 117 million for the state, because it was 86.742.853.36 cents years ago!
PM cannot ask his friends to pay up
They get all the freebies.
Most of them are Dominicans. Who do you think they are?
But how much does the State owe private businesses?
Nonsense you talking. I doubt what the state owe is near what these Privateers owe
I guess 44 million has already been paid. I would like to see the report of the auditor that says 106 million in taxes is owed. The pm seems to be throwing numbers out there. Slow down in forign aid it seems. Boss needs money. When Will we wise up
Who and where is the finance minister?. Its a catastrophic failure under his watch, a clear case of gross incompetence, to say the least. I understand, the inland Revenue, goes into people acc to reclaim monies owed- why can’t they do the same?- The finance minister is instead crying for compromise between the private sector and Govt. Sir, unpaid taxes is a crime and it is punishable by law. In any developed society, this incompetence would never happen. This Govt really sucks, we voting them out with both hands people!!!!!
No leadership….that’s what it is. For reasons like this that there are so many things lacking in the hospital and when there is a disaster no one seems to take up their role quickly to ensure the safety of people. Just a sly kind of nice to prick people eyes….quonae. They play nice on the outside while things are falling apart in the inside just to get you to vote for them again and the cycle continues.
Have you paid your taxes? The issue is about businesses who owe taxes to the government. Encourage them to pay what they owe. We want everything we see in other countries in ours yet, we do not want to pay tax. ALL the developing countries we boast about, the people there pay all kinds of taxes. All we are interested in is partying every day. Some of us eat macaroni all the time and spend our money buying all that we cannot afford and blame government for all our problems. Pay your taxes, and budget what you earn properly. None of the forest trees in Dominica is a “money tree’
It is kind of strange, with so many chinese businesses opening in Dominica, the corporate taxes paid to government are decreasing. Are the chinese not paying their taxes?
In my country I have noticed many Chinese business’s ONLY Accept CASH,.. calculator math, then nothing is run through the cash register,.. so how would they know what tax’s they even owe….?!? beware beware,.. Very good eye Mwen,. you hit a nail on the head. The government needs to get some Chartered Accountants to start “auditing” business’s,. when a business imports 1000 units of something yet only show record of selling 50,. where are the other 950 units that you owe tax on mister business owner? Bill the costs of the accountants back to the Violating business owners,. done deal, problem resolved.
Show the evidence. So you want to tell the business how to collect payment from it’s customers? Government CANNOT TELL OR HIRE ANY CHATTERED ACCOUNT to audit any business. You WAY OUT OF SINC. The business must HIRE an accountant to audit it’s business and must not try to hide information from the chattered accountants who conduct the audits. The Inland Revenue Division should clamp down on these people early. They give them too long a grace period. When you give people a foot, they take two miles.
Have you gone to purchase from the Chinese. Their receipts never say what you purchase or what taxes you pay. They operate like Cabaways. How can we be pressing our indigenous business to comply and these people are not. Pay taxes with what? What about the big business who has placed an injunction on the inland revenue department? Are they paying the correct taxes? The only people who are paying the correct taxes are the public officers and the private sector employees. It’s collected before we get out salaries and we must pay the VAT. That’s why our take home pay cannot take us home.
Why do you think the Government would allow the business sector to owe so much taxes. It is ALLEGED,the Company J. Astapan not only owes Government some serious taxes but has refused to allow Government to audit the Company in term of taxes owed. In my opinion, if the allegations are true, it is a case of if those who have access to Ministers of Government can get away with that kind of indiscretion, why should other Companies take up the payments of taxes seriously. According to Dominicans,”what monkey see monkey do monkey do.” Take notice,I am not calling anybody’s Company a monkey.
“refused to allow Government to audit the Company”, I find it hard to believe that a business can just deny the government,.. if True there is something wrong with the Government legislation in Dominica and needs to be ammended immediately. My business in Canada gets audited about ever 6 or 7 years,. I run my business by the book so there is nothing to find,. my chartered accountant has advised me this is common practice for all business’s in my country. I think they should make this common practice in Dominica too, it is the only way to weed out the violators.
For your information,those allegations have been made on radio on several occasions by a gentleman who once worked at a Bank in Dominica and at no time has anybody from J. Astaphan Company denied those allegations.
ALLEGED ALLEGED ALLEGED, well boy.
The private sector people are trying to be politicaly correct literally that is. If things are effed up jyst say so. Keeo remaining quiet but the drenched roof top is everyones ordeal when the rain comes.
Before they start, a NEW SUV in the drive, shooooff.
PAY UP! because them we suffering…-_-
a list of offenders would be nice, just for information purposes.
do you think the offenders are not paying intensionally, look around dominica and tell me who you see making money and how many people visiting and spending, the only people making money are the politicians, most of them have heavy equipment on other people name and overstating projects like the bin bobol fiasco, the chinese are taking the chunck of dominicans money and exporting it to china while giving customs their own made invoices, you can check with the customs to see how much duty collected from each chineses store for 2011-2012,
dominican business places here are literally stagnat because of the crippling effect of the vat and the way the duty is compounded… like a used car older than five years is about 158 percent..
SO PLEASE DON’ BLAME THE BUSINESS PLACES THAT THE GOOVERNMENT CRIPPLE BY PREVENTING A DECENT CASH FLOW THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, if the people are poor the businesses will suffer….LABAR POWER
Well said I could not have said any better my self .
AMEN to that .
God is watching and judgement day is not far people.
How do we expect the country to strive without having to beg foreign dollar?
Should that 106million + 150million in taxes from the population be collected , does that mean a little less begging and a better standard of life for the population?
I think the 106 is part of the 150 and not an addition to the 150. So it is really the business that not paying up their dues. Also I must say with the current economic policies DA is not a very attractive place to set up shop
ok thanks for the enlightenment. However we are the ones to enlighten the place to attract business. But again if some not paying taxes then it will cost us more to open than to prosper.