The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank has told the Government of Antigua and Barbuda that its tax collection is the worst in the OECS.
Bank officials presented a review of the country’s economic performance in the last year and highlighted poor tax college has a major challenge here.
ECCB Country Economist Beverly Lugay says Antigua’s tax collection has affected its ranking on global doing business reports.
Lugay told reporters that what Antigua suffers from is “inadequate tax administration.”
She hastened to add, however, that the Central Bank is not advocating an increase in new taxes.
“There needs to be an improvement in tax collection; tax collection processes, the effectiveness of the tax collection unit.”
She said three things are needed to improve tax collection including “highly qualified and highly trained staff to collect taxes.”
The economist wants tax procedures “streamlined” to improve tax collection.
She said although Antigua is among top performing economies in the Currency Union “tax collection is the lowest in the region” at only 17 percent of Gross Dometic Product.
The economist also said Antigua’s debt is unsustainable and predicts that the country won’t meet the ECCB target to reduce debt to 60 percent of GDP by 2030. Debt to GDP currently stands at 72.5 percent.
“And that is a concern to us,” she said.
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Inland Revenue!!!!!
Weird
That economist doesn’t understand that government should lift the burden off its citizens. So if the collection of taxes was efficient it would be harder for the people who are already suffering. Maybe its one “good” that the present government has done.
If she wants more revenue they could scrap the consumption tax and restore the corporate tax level.?
Question….wasn’t consumption tax repealed and replaced by ABST in 2007?
At least Antiguans are not being taxed out of existence.
Please keep away from the Barbados model.
They can use the American model since we in Antigua love America so much. Over 40 thousands Antiguans and Barbudans live in America and have no problem adapting their tax system.
If we don’t do anything to improving our tax collection, our debt will get higher from continuous borrowing from other country.
Wow I wonder if the government was harder on us with tax collection how would you feel. Me living from pay cheque to pay cheque as it stands.
@ Mary Jane. The American Model is even worst. America is morally bankrupt and soon to be financially so.
Between a rock and a hard place!?
IF out tax dollar was wisely spent and not used for personal enrichment this country would be the envy of the Caribbean. Sadly we are led by thieves and liars and like the system just the way it is.
Well if they would stop borrowing from all the countries of the world then we wouldn’t have such high debt. Dem say dem go borrow till dem run de country in de ground. Den its the little man who has to sacrifice to pay for the government’s greed and lack of foresight.
I want the govt to get ruff on tax collections then see what all you critics have to say. I’m sure the first things will be the government to wicked taxes to high blah blah blah….. You can’t please Antigua people
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