These items will not attract the 17 per cent ABST

8
Shopping cart of food

BUDGET 2024: Mr. Speaker, although there may be nominal impact on prices because of the rate adjustment; let me emphasize that the change in the ABST rate will not affect a wide selection of food and other essential items.

Already, many of the basic food items we presently consume are zero-rated, so consumers do not pay ABST on them.

Permit me to mention some of these zero-rated items:

Most fruits and vegetables to include but not limited to bananas, oranges, grapes, potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower and lettuce

o       baby products

Dry goods and oils to include pasta, sugar, corn meal, flour, rice, and cooking oils

o       chicken, fish, local produced meats, eggs, canned sardines and tuna

o       bread

o       cereals, cheese and milk

Water

o       medicine, pharmaceutical supplies, and adult diapers

Additionally, exempt supplies for use in the agriculture and fisheries sectors will not be affected by the change in the ABST rate.

The Government, through the Ministry of Finance, Prices and Consumer Affairs Division, Customs and Excise Department, and other critical stakeholders, will monitor prices as the revenue reforms are implemented.

Further, the basket of essential goods and the list of price-controlled items are being reviewed and recommendations will be made to the Cabinet for appropriate adjustments.

The intention is to minimize the price effect on basic and essential goods and ensure timely interventions are made to cushion any impact on vulnerable groups in society.

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8 COMMENTS

  1. There should be no tax on vehicle suspension parts, as we’re forced to run on these very poor quality roads everyday, destroying our vehicle suspension!

    • Dam Skippy wadMan

      Tax the dam sugar…it’s killing us..speak of kill -take abst off of funeral arrangements

      Tax bread…them bread shop making out like bandit. Ppl need to eat ground provisions and stay way from bread!!!!

  2. You can roll it out however you choose because you have the power. It’s going to hurt the poor no matter how you play with words. Can’t believe anything this government says.
    Epicurean, why doesn’t someone control the way they price their products. The list price under the item on the shelf or in the freezer is hiked up on many products. What you think the price is, changes to a higher price when you go to pay. Most people who are doing a big shop don’t even notice.
    I complain on a regular basis. They make enough money without having to decieve there customers.
    CHECK YOUR RECEIPTS PEOPLE YOU’LL SEE.

  3. George Ryan called into Observer Radio last week and explained that the largest supermarket on island had been given an ABST concession which they have enjoyed for many years. In spite of this they have been charging ABST on all their sales and itemizing it on customer receipts. I wonder which supermarket he is talking about???

    • What are you saying here? That the largest conglomerate in Antigua is not paying the ABST, while the government just levelled an additional 2% on poor people? Is it any wonder the government cannot pay its bills and have to rely on borrowings to run the country. Who really controls Antigua? It seems to me the government is controlled by a puppet master.

  4. Is it legal to charge the public ABST on purchases at this supermarket if they don’t have to pay the government ABST?

  5. My checkout receipts from Epi have a capital T alongside my purchases of cream cheese and linguini. Yet in this report it appears to me to state that pasta and cheese will not be subject to the 17% ABST. I find this confusing. Should these items now be ABST free? Or will they remain at 15% when the new legislation takes effect?
    I’ve also had numerous instances of being charged higher prices at the checkout than is posted on the shelf. This is a serious problem. In Toronto supermarkets there is a sign at the checkout to advise customers that if they are overcharged they are legally entitled to demand immediate compensation of TWELVE TIMES the overcharge dollar amount from the supermarket. You can bet your boots they all , make darn sure they get their prices right! We must all DEMAND the same in Antigua NOW NOW NOW.
    Ax the tax.

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