Antigua’s Parliament Passes Measure to Increase Money Transfer Taxes
Antigua and Barbuda’s Parliament passed a measure yesterday to increase money transfer taxes from 2% to 5%, following a proposal by Prime Minister Gaston Browne.
The amendment, known as the Money Services Business Transfer Levy Bill 2024, aims to enhance government revenue by capturing a larger share of the significant money transfers made by expatriates and others in the country.
In his address to Parliament, Prime Minister Gaston Browne defended the measure, stating, “We think it’s only fair that the government gets its fair share of the taxes, and it’s one of the areas in which we’re seeking to raise additional revenues to fund government operations.”
He also highlighted that the increase is part of broader efforts to raise additional revenues to support government operations.
However, the measure was met with strong opposition from MP Richard Lewis, who expressed concerns about its potential impact.
“I have a problem with the imposition of any tax without an administration first giving a full account to the people, the taxpayers, that is, of how its tax dollars have been spent,” he stated.
MP Lewis further criticized the government, saying, “You campaigned on no ABS increase and lower cost of living for the people of Antigua and Barbuda, and just a year and a few months later, you have failed the people of Antigua and Barbuda, you have reneged.”
Despite the opposition, the measure was passed in Parliament, marking a significant change in money transfer taxes in Antigua and Barbuda.
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I am fed up of hearing about tax increase for the year, and it’s only February 23, 2024. This government is out to kill us!!!!!!!!!!!! I have no affiliation to any political parties, none, so I’m not for or against any. But speaking from an open mind, jeeeeeze! I hope the government knows that increasing hardship to the average citizens lives will always lead to more crime. Financial strain, hardships of life, poverty, and those kind of struggles always results in petty stealing, which eventually turns into bigger stealing with knives, then far bigger thefts with guns as they get comfortable stealing and see how easy it is to get away. Eventually, it leads to bigger crimes such as kidnapping and murders.
I know that taxes is way for government to get revenue to run the country, but it’s insane to be rising all taxes one time, especially in the midst of inflation where everything else is rising, such as rent and food. This is crazy! Enough said, a word to the wise is sufficient. This government will see the backlash of its decisions sooner than later, as crime is already on the rise here, especially burglary, which is a sign of hardship.
Plus, this government ran on a political campaign last year where they promised not to raise any taxes. A promise is really a comfort to a fool indeed!
Well Antigua has no personal income tax ans government must find the monet somewhere.
@Richard . They had PIT. Why they throw it away and now they well want it?? Jokers!!
From 2% to 5%.That is a bit much.ABST went from 15% to 17%. Water rates are going up for Commercial Businesses shortly.Then the water rates are going up for private homes.What are coming next? Gas,Diesel,Cooking Gas,prices would be going up.
The Metropolitan countries thrive on taxes so why can’t we? What we should be concern about is not taxes but the proper goods & services that we need to get
All this could have been avoided by income tax across the board. One tax and manage the money!
The difference is in those countries you can see where your tax dollars are being spent, for example, public transportation, healthcare, public education, etc. I don’t think the same can be said for here in Antigua & Barbuda
@Bloody Bloke. We had income tax but the bloody blokes that people like you put in office got rid of it and now crying. If this doesn’t convince you that ABLP is wrong for this country then you are a lost Bloody Bloke.
It’s time for the Churches, Religious organisations to be taxed like any other private for profit business.
Did they raise their tax(tithe) of ten(10)% to fifteen(15)% on their members?
In addition to this tax/tithe, the people work for free(volunteering) to take care of the churches businesses and their subsidiaries.
It’s time to tax the Churches, and those that abused their members over the years, like the Catholic Church MUST be taken before the Courts, to answer and pay for their crimes committed on HUEmanity.
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
Rass Smood really now? Stop right there. Rethink what you just said. Just stop.
@Hhhhhmmmmnn!!!
A…call your god(s) or the churches gods and tell them what I wrote/said.
B…go to your minister(religious or government) and tell them what I wrote/said.
C…I will repeat in #OBEAH Language 💀❌☦️🏥✝️🐈⬛🐦⬛❌☠️
(i)…time to tax the churches and religious organizations just like any other for profit businesses.
(ii)…take these religious institutions to the Courts, just like what was done with the Catholic Church(the precedent is set by the Courts in certain jurisdictions, as in not only have the Catholic Church being found guilty for their abuses, perpetrated on HUEmanity; they’re still paying out MILLIONS in fines. The QUASI REPARATION MOVEMENTS should be going after, the same Catholic Church and the Church of England for their INQUISITIONS).
Again, tax these Religious Institutions and go after those which have already being found guilty in other jurisdictions(North America in particular) for their CRIMES against HUEmanity.
Now, Hhhhhmmmmnn…please call my parents, call your ministers(religious & government), but most of all call ☎️ the God’s, snitch on Vere C. Edwards and tell them what I wrote/said; because, all of the above already know, who I am!
Would you like to know, outside of my given Corporate Name registered with the state(s)?
I am, that I am! A being of the Universe, protected and guided by the Essence of Nature’s Ether, through the ancestral powers and blessings, of #Mami_Wata 🌊 and #Papa_Legba☠️!
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
So I work. Pay my social and statutories
I need to send money to my daughter who goes to school abroad and you want to take five percent of that money.
Really.
This is particularly hard on our large expatriate population who generally work and sends money back to their homeland for the maintainance of their children. Would also affect the parents of students abroad who depends on their parents to send them a regular change. I think this increase is inconceivable, not well thought out and unnecessary
👍
@Audley. I am not concerned about the expatriates. They have somewhere to go. As a matter of fact the countries where they are from: Jamaica, Guyana, Dominican Republic etc are much better off than us. Is nuff we nuff and lub votes that have us so.
For us Antiguans, all of this could have been avoided if they had voted out ABLP. The problem is: ABLP doesn’t care because they believe they know how to reach them come election time. “Elections have consequences”. Learn Antigua people, learn!!!
@Zackie…one simple question!
Why did the UPP administration literally incinerate ☄️🔥The Lindquist Report regarding, the IHI accusations? Was it because, it allegedly, exposed several of the UPP’s hierarchy members, in particular those who were under the control of Asot’s campaign funding?
The LINDQUIST REPORT, allegedly, was just as powerful, as the investigation(s) which, allegedly, was behind the demise of J. Ashe. This was a missed opportunity by the UPP to deal a serious blow, to the Organised Cabal of the ABLP; and, wean itself of their own crooks. Less you forget, Antigua politicians have the spirit of a #Wharf_Rat jump from ship to ship in the harbour looking for food!
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood!
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
This is just a dumb move..the monies that are sent by folks through these various avenue’s, are for people in need, so why would you suffer the needy any more by taking out money from the little they have?
And further more, you would want to encourage more transfers of funds so that the economy can be fruitful, and this is not the way to do it, because after all, these monies are being spent in the country, and are already taxed through the ABST, so this is just more injustice on the poor. And for the people who talk about just Levy income tax on everyone, do not look into the consideration that 60% of the people of Antigua, or maybe, are living under the poverty level, and should not be suggested to income taxes in the first place, so that’s another dumb suggestion. This government lacks intelligent ideas, so they come up with these bone headed ideas to further suffer it’s people.
Gatson Browne always hunting for money, and you don’t see a damn thing that’s been improved in Antigua with all this money grabbing.
Yes government needs taxes to improve the lives of the people, but where is the improvements to Antiguan’s on a whole, where?
This Government gots to go, gots to. Plain and simple.
*subjected*. Sorry.
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