Antigua and Barbuda Government Stands Firm on 2% Sales Tax Increase Despite Accommodation Providers’ Deferral Request

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The government rejected accommodation providers’ request to postpone the 2 percent increase in the Antigua and Barbuda Sales Tax (ABST).

The Gaston Browne Administration insists the increase is effective from January 1, emphasizing the need to generate revenue for a 14 percent total increase in government worker salaries.

Chief of Staff Ambassador Lionel Hurst clarified the Cabinet’s stance, highlighting the government’s commitment to fiscal responsibility.

The Finance Ministry, led by Financial Secretary Rasona Davis Crump, will closely monitor ABST collection, including ceasing discretionary waivers and tax exemptions, aiming to balance government finances without continuous borrowing.

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7 COMMENTS

  4. This government is not serious. There are so many Air B&Bs owned by espats who pay nothing and employ 1 person maybe one day a week to clean. How many people do Hotels employ? And the majority of these Air B&B owners pay nothing. The staff at Inland Revenue should get off their lazy butts and go out around the country and see what is happening. If these taxes were seriously collected many of our infrastructure problems could be solved.

    • This has been an on going laugh at the expense of the IRD inept compliance division of enforcement; and a spinoff of the non comforting stance of the Census Department: to not fully insure the inclusion of all residents and household demographic. Thus, they expatriates operate like phantom entities and, enclaves; right under the radar of our nose and eyes: and bat not an eye, at having their clients declared as family or personal guess visitors. Also revenue can be enhance, by having only registered mechanic shops operating for commerce; and, bring all clandestine operating vendors of goods and, services, as so too be register, and stand in compliance, as also vehicles road compliancy. These are readily available revenue enhancement streams that can be tapped without the need for legislative input as, they are already a part of law of the administrative governance code of the land.

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