M&CC considers extending Tax Amnesty - Hamilton Green

M&CC considers extending Tax Amnesty – Hamilton Green

Nov 01, 2015 News

The Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) is “favourably considering” extending the Tax Amnesty project for a few more days.

Mayor Hamilton Green

This disclosure was made by Mayor Hamilton Green, yesterday.
The tax amnesty period was scheduled to conclude yesterday.
According to Mayor Green, there have been several requests to have the project extended. “There are people that have serious financial crisis. Then there are those coming from overseas and the retired public servants”, the Mayor explained.
He said that a special committee that was selected to oversee the affairs of the tax amnesty project-consisting of Deputy Mayor, Patricia Chase-Green; Town Clerk, Royston King; and Councillor, Junior Garrett is now looking into the requests.
The Mayor related that the M&CC will soon release a statement about whether or not the project will be given another extension.
When questioned about the amount of money the Council had garnered thus far, Green said that he was unable to specify the amount.
However, during an interview last month, Deputy Mayor, Patricia Chase-Green said that the Council has collected approximately $400M in taxes from defaulting taxpayers during the amnesty. But she stressed that millions are still owed by residents and businesses.
The tax amnesty project was launched on September, 1, last, and saw persons meeting with a panel to have their tax issues resolved. It was then extended until October 31, to allow tax debtors additional time to honour their civic obligation of paying rates and taxes.
Under the amnesty project, residential properties will receive total amnesty on interest, but companies and businesses must apply to the Council for between 50 per cent and 75 per cent amnesty on tax interest.
The Council has noted that about 300 businesses are in default of paying taxes, this year. The Georgetown M&CC, from time to time, has offered delinquent taxpayers waivers on tax interest through amnesty.
The venture is seen as a method of collecting hundreds of millions owed to the Council.