Taxpayers say property tax extension no real relief
Senior Reporter
kay-marie.fletcher@guardian.co.tt
Finance Minister Colm Imbert confirmed yesterday that the new deadline to pay property tax, is November 29, 2024. However, many property owners are still complaining that the cost is too high to bear.
When Guardian Media visited some revenue offices yesterday, there were visibly shorter lines, but some people, especially pensioners, said they were still pained with having to pay hundreds and even thousands of dollars in property tax.
Speaking outside the Inland Revenue division in Port-of-Spain, 73-year-old Dan Farrell and his 66-year-old wife Mary, from Diego Martin, said paying $539 in property tax may not seem like much for some people, but for them, it will be a struggle.
Dan said, “I am a pensioner. I find the cost is too high. We already have high food costs. We have to pay lights, water and now look at the amount of money they are charging you and it’s a yearly thing… I ain’t want them throwing us on the street because it seems as though that is their intention if you can’t pay for it, they take away your home.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Mary said, “We take whatever little money we have, and we come and do it. It too high for poor people like us.”
At the Revenue office in Tunapuna, Janelle Codrington said property tax for her family’s three-bedroom home in Champs Fleurs was more than $2,000.
And although there may be an extension to pay the fee, it doesn’t lighten her burden.
Codrington said, “An extension date doesn’t change the fact that you still have to pay it. You still have to pay… It’s ridiculous. I’m being honest, it is ridiculous. But, I have to come and pay it until better could be done about it. We really hope that they change it, and they stop with that because you have to pay for too many things and everything expensive at the end of the day. Why should we have to pay property tax? Why? Amongst everything else.”
Some people also complained that both offices in Port-of -Spain and Tunapuna were still only accepting cash or cheques and no linx.
Guardian Media observed signs indicating “cash only” and “no linx” at both offices.
As such, some people who wanted to pay with their bank cards were turned away.
However, Imbert took to social media yesterday to say that this is what people preferred.
Imbert said, “On August 16 2024, we published the National Financial Inclusion Survey Report 2023. This survey confirmed that 82 per cent of our citizens prefer to deal in cash, rather than online payments, and 85 per cent do not have a credit card. So why is the media demanding that all payments be online? The irony is that while the leader of the Opposition has declared that she is resolutely opposed to any transition to cashless payments in T&T, because in her mind this would compromise private banking information, the UNC Opposition Couva South MP is demanding online payments!”
In parliament on Friday, Imbert said a new property tax extension date would have been announced yesterday.
And by the end of October, it is expected that the Board of Inland Revenue will be able to accept payments by Automated Clearing House (ACH) bank transfer credit card.
But as he remained tightlipped on this aspect yesterday, some people said they aren’t taking any chances.
Maloney Gardens resident Veetlin Butcher said, “People must feel they could take their time now because of what he said, because it’s not up to the 30th anymore. That’s probably why it has such little bit of people. But, I decided I’m still coming today because I always planned to come today. I just want to get it off my chest. It don’t matter if you fuss, you still have to pay it.”
Guardian Media reached out to the Finance Ministry on this yesterday but received no response up to press time.
The post Taxpayers say property tax extension no real relief first appeared on CNC3.