Roseau City Council rethinks tax collection

taxThe Roseau City Council is leaning towards implementing a more robust system for the collection of property taxes in the capital.

Non-compliance to the payment of municipality taxes has been an issue for the Council for some time now.

City Mayor, Irene John, says her Council intends to take tax collection more seriously.

“If you cannot pay all of it, come in and we can always arrange payment but the idea of just not paying and ignoring the situation is just not good enough,” she said. “We have to pursue that matter vigorously to make sure we can recover all the monies that we have out there.”

She believes more efficiency in tax collection will allow the Council to accomplish more.

“It is true that we can ask funding agencies or others to help you but they will ask you ‘What is your method of collection? How much money do you have out there? Are you collecting?’ and we cannot answer. How can we get help if we are not helping ourselves?” she stated. “We have to pursue the idea of going out there and insisting that persons pay their taxes so we will have sufficient money to do all the things that we are being asked to do.”

The Mayor says while persons are reluctant to comply mainly because they expect a direct service in return, paying taxes is mandatory by law.

Currently, legal action against non-compliant property owners is a last resort.

City Overseer, Thomas Baptiste, observes that Dominica is the OECS country with the lowest property tax rates- a yearly average of $150.

Mayor John is hoping that when more efficient measures are implemented, the Council will yield better results.

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35 Comments

  1. March 26, 2015

    in my opinion , property tax resembles the mafia system . i think that in this day and age the council should try to come up with more innovative and relevant ideas to obtain taxes. if you have a mortgage why the property tax. paying taxes for your home is punitive.

    • The Facts
      March 26, 2015

      Personal mortgage and property tax are two different identities.

  2. anonymous2
    March 26, 2015

    I don’t know why people continue to buy in to this taxation thing. Are they just fools? The govt. so conditions people that THEY should pay the govt. and continue paying. For what? Show me what those tax dollars are doing rather than finding their way into the pockets of politicians. Rather than taxes, there should be citizen action groups formed which have duties to perform in enhancing the streets, cities and countryside. But people here, don’t want to come together. They just want to keep paying, even though they don’t have money.

    • The Facts
      March 26, 2015

      Do you need to be told that if you are an adult, are employed and own property you are obligated to pay taxes? This is the law wherever you reside in the world, unless you are a poor, ailing and unemployed person.

  3. Bad Vibes.
    March 26, 2015

    FINALLY….The truth has been admitted… Efforts put into tax collection by the city council over the years have been a “BIG JOKE”. How can a city provide us with the services that we require without a functioning tax collection system? It is only one set of people that are paying taxes in Dominica. If you think I lie ask the Inland Revenue Division . But on a more serious note, this issue is not new to the city council. They have always had that problem. So am happy that the Mayor has the testicular fortitude to say so and to tackle the problem from the root . All that it tells me is that the checks and balances that are in effect re the collection or taxes are either none operational or not effective. (Maybe the city council should have some discussion with the Ministry of finance to see how they could work collaboratively with the Inland Revenue in that regard.) Why do you think that the trusted police are no longer collecting license (Drivers, motor vehicle etc) again?

    • The Facts
      March 26, 2015

      I find it strange that you ask such a question which you should know. The government knows what use the money is put to. It is the obligation of nationals to pay their taxes with no question.
      You should be residing overseas. Even though you complain about taxes and increased taxes, you would have to pay your taxes, shut up and have respect. Otherwise you will have to face the tax man and the collection services. Depending on how much you owe, you could also lose your property. It is not pleasant for those who do.

    • Me
      March 27, 2015

      So what was Cecil doing there then all those years?

  4. SN
    March 26, 2015

    Property Tax collection should not be a problem. Legislation should be instituted to allow for the selling of tax lien certificates on delinquent property taxes to those who want to invest in them. The investor willing to take the lowest interest rate should be allowed to pay the tax, for which he is given a tax lien certificate to be repaid with interest by the property owner over a period of time. The rate should start at 18% which would be brought down by bidders willing to accept a lower rate. Failure of the homeowner to repay within two years will result in the tax lien holder foreclosing on the property which will be sold at auction, where bidders, including the tax lien certificate holder, bids to buy the property. Also, the banks could insists those who are getting giving a mortgage to the bank to pay the tax in monthly increments which will be escrowed to pay taxes when due as part of the monthly housing payment to the bank. That is the most efficient way to get the taxes.

  5. Malpardee
    March 26, 2015

    Well , well it look like the irs should come to dominica…. Pm make arrangement with uncle sam and they will find out, what it means to ignore taxes. Lol..

    • The Facts
      March 26, 2015

      Likewise Canada Revenue. They do not joke with tax collection. Property tax in this country ranges from hundreds of dollars to thousands, depending on the size of the house/property+ and its location. If one side of your house occupies two ends of a street, the tax is higher. If you reside in a rich area the tax is higher yet.
      Someone told me of a West Indian (not a D/can) who sold her house and bought another one. I think she also inherited some money from a relative who died. She did not report it to Canada Revenue. As always, the government will eventually find out. For not paying taxes all those years, she had to sell her house to pay the government and now resides in an apartment. Otherwise, the government would seize her house and sell it for next to nothing. Likewise those who owe financial institutions, as owing on mortgages. They do not joke here.
      Dominicans must know these things. They must pay their little tax owing to the government and on time.

  6. power HOUSE
    March 26, 2015

    $150 .00 yearly ? i think I should move to dominica since my property tax is almost $4000.00 per year and it is my responsibilty to fix the side walk if not i get a ticket ,if there is a water leak in the street i must pay thousands of $ to have repaired . I had to add an insurance fee to the water bill to avoid paying for repairs I would be happy to pay that $150.00 in D A

    • The Facts
      March 27, 2015

      Tell them like it is, if they will believe. It is no bed of roses residing overseas. Taxes are high. We pay all sorts of taxes, income tax, property tax and whatever else. Nothing escapes the government and residents get no freebies and no time to pay up especially if late.
      They should also take a look at the income tax form. It will shock them.
      We are presently in the tax season until the end of April. Everyone in this country is obligated to submit an income tax by April 30th.
      If they owe the government income tax, they must include a cheque for the amount or arrange with Revenue Canada to pay by installments. Otherwise if they are employed, their wages will be garnished. Late tax payment incur interest until the full amount is paid.

  7. way papa
    March 26, 2015

    150 ec dollars i am buying a house in Dominica. I pay 2,090.00 ec dollars a year for a three bedroom house. In the VI and thats cheap compare to some others.

  8. Anthony Ismael
    March 25, 2015

    Property owners in Dominica are very fortunate. In other countries, those who owe taxes do not have such options. Either pay outstanding taxes owed or lose the property. It’s that simple.

  9. The Facts
    March 25, 2015

    By law tax owing must be paid. Fortunate that they reside in D/ca. This could not happen especially in supposedly progressive countries. If you owe the government you have to pay up A.S.A.P.
    Late dues accumulate interest If they fail to pay and are employed their wages will be garnished. They could make arrangements to pay a certain portion which must be honored when due.
    These days with direct deposit, if governments know where they bank and their account number, they will get access to it and deduct amount owing, if there are funds in the account. I assume how it is done the government will contact the financial institution.
    Governments in these parts have rules and regulations and means of collecting taxes owed. Their interest is to collect whatever is owing and also overdue. No amount of arguing and pleading will help.
    It is money owed. How about charging interest on amount owing? This probably will encourage them to pay taxes when due.

  10. Not a herd follower
    March 25, 2015

    The Mayor speaks about specific measures. What are those?

    • The Facts
      March 27, 2015

      I suspect what they are. Just think of what those measures are which financial institutions use to collect money owing.

  11. hopeful
    March 25, 2015

    It is all well and good to collect taxes but we need to look at things from many perspectives. There too many tumble down buildings in the city that are definitely an eyesore and often dangerous. Roseau residents need to be regularised. Too many ‘yards’. How are you going to say who has to pay? We have to do something about the buildings first before we push taxes on these people.

    • JoJo
      March 26, 2015

      Definitely, I’m sure they could put a compulsory purchase order on these dilapidated structures and then repair them for rent or bulldoze them. They are ugly and often insecure and make the place look nasty. If owners can not look after them acquire them and do something useful with the space in the public interest.

    • The Facts
      March 27, 2015

      This is something the Mayor also has to look into. I will also state that those types of sore sights buildings will not be standing (not for long) if they were in Canada or Toronto for that matter. The government will advise the owners accordingly. For one, they will have to be torn down.
      I noted the house where the man who was set ablaze lived/slept with a few others. Such a house should not be standing at all. It should be either fixed or torn down. The government must do something about those buildings.

  12. go girl!
    March 25, 2015

    $150 a year? That’s nothing… that’s $12.50 a month… if tax is there to get anything done it should be at least twice that… roads sidewalks paying for clean up, electricity for the street lights and upkeep…

    • The Facts
      March 25, 2015

      What happens, if they do not pay their taxes annually, the amount will obviously increase. Then they may not be able to afford to pay the total amount owing which may be for a few years. They need to budget and put aside the amount specifically to pay their taxes. Furthermore the government is always ready to make arrangements with them to pay a reasonable amount until it is paid.

  13. DD
    March 25, 2015

    Delineate what the taxes are being used for – Roseau sewer stinks , and gutters are dirty – stop the corruption and work

    • The Facts
      March 27, 2015

      You should consider the result of this may be due to, too many nationals not paying their taxes. People complain about that but how many pay their taxes and on time or have paid it at all?

  14. Zandoli
    March 25, 2015

    Again I say ENFORCE the law.

    Do you guys see a pattern here? People do what they want in Dominica because they know there will be no consequence for them simply choosing to ignore the rules and laws.

    I use to own a condo and I was the president of the condo corporation. Home owners had until the 11th of the following month to pay their previous month’s fees. Failing that we send the file straight to the lawyer. He would place a lien on the property and they home owner would have to pay to discharge the lien, pay the outstanding fees plus all legal fees.

    Home owners are made aware of the policy. Failing to adhere to the rules cost a whole lot more than not paying on time.

    All I keep hearing is that people are not obey he law and hey we have people pleading with citizens to obey the law. That is the craziest thing I have ever heard. Just apply the law when people break it. Very simple.

  15. george Fontaine
    March 25, 2015

    $150 a year to live in a clean city will lower the health bill of the whole family and nation, ensure tourist returns, encourage good humour and wellness in society…Please make the effort….

  16. fantastic4
    March 25, 2015

    I was a regular payer but right now the money I would want to pay the City Council as taxes due I take it to pay laborers to clean around where I live since the City council fails to do it; I am willing to pay but please provide the service.

    • The Facts
      March 27, 2015

      I hope you informed the Mayor about it. Probably you could be given a refund and/or credit.

  17. Titiwi
    March 25, 2015

    dear Ms. John, soft doctors make stinking wounds. I’m afraid you have to get tough even if may make you less popular. You are not there to be popular but to run a city as efficiently as possible. Only when people pay the taxes they owe they can rightly complain about services. Take a couple of defaulters to court as an example. Too often we threaten and then do nothing. That only breeds contempt and disrespect. Nobody enjoys paying taxes, me included but if we want services we must pay.

    • The Facts
      March 27, 2015

      You made an excellent point. This should be done in writing and also a Writ. She does not have to speak to them. First, she should send out a notice/reminder and request that they pay by a certain time. If they do not respond, she should follow it up with a demand for payment. If they still do not respond, take it to the Court. Let the Court handle it. She should not converse (verbally) with them.
      People have to learn a lesson and take such matters seriously for their own good. They should know that the government needs money for repairs and maintenance.

  18. Country man
    March 25, 2015

    Our city tax should be the lowest given that we are the poorest. These tax collectors should provide a plan that outlines what the city tax revenues will be used for. Right now it looks like we just need to collect more money

    • mandate 2 mismanage
      March 25, 2015

      All the complaints about garbage not being picked up, streets dirty, etc. All of that would be solved with proper administration by the Roseau City Council. Those folks work hard only to hear that salaries can’t be paid b/c folks aren’t paying their taxes.

    • The Facts
      March 25, 2015

      They do not have to provide any plan . . . . Their obligation is to collect the taxes that are owing and are long overdue. It is the Mayor’s business what is done with the money. She knows what needs to be done.

  19. Thorbjørn Jagland
    March 25, 2015

    Thomas Baptiste, observes that Dominica is the OECS country with the lowest property tax rates- a yearly average of $150, Baptiste need to observe that Dominica is the MOST UNDEVELOPED OECS Country.
    You don’t even have an international airport and you want to compare yourself to other OECS countries, you people crazy. :mrgreen:

    • go girl!
      March 25, 2015

      If you have any hopes of it being developed people better start paying their tax.. unless you are happy with the way things are.

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