St Lucia: Taxpayers encouraged to take advantage of Tax Amnesty

St Lucia: The Government has approved a one year amnesty for taxpayers who have existing liabilities. The Amnesty programme commenced on May 1, 2022, and will end on April 30, 2023. Taxpayers with outstanding liabilities for the tax period 2000 to 2020 will get a 100 percent waiver on penalties and interest on all tax types except PAYE, Withholding tax (including contract tax) and VAT.

Marcia Vité, Comptroller at the IRD, said, “the Department is looking forward to taxpayers with outstanding liabilities taking advantage of this opportunity to clear off all outstanding amounts owed to the IRD. Now is the opportune time for taxpayers to bring their filing up to date and to clear off any existing liabilities and become compliant once again.”

Also announced by the government is the write off of all income tax liabilities, including interest and penalties due on liabilities prior to the income year 2000. “Taxpayers are being allowed to begin on a clean slate with the IRD.”

“We want to encourage taxpayers to utilise our email address amnesty@ird.gov.lc to contact the Department specifically for information on the amnesty or to request an appointment with our Collections Officers. Taxpayers can also visit any of the IRD locations for assistance. Taxpayers who are e-users can access their accounts to find out the outstanding amounts due and can begin to make the necessary payments online.”

This Amnesty programme is one that allows taxpayers to settle their tax liabilities on a favourable basis. Therefore, taxpayers who have unfiled returns or existing tax liabilities should do their utmost to participate. The amnesty ends on April 30, 2023.

Taxpayers who have failed to take advantage of this amnesty will face a variety of enforcement actions, inclusive of penalties and interests associated with the amounts outstanding.

The government stated, “For further information, contact the IRD at 1(758) 468-4700 or 468-2800 Castries, 468-4960 Vieux Fort or 459-7036 Soufriere. Or visit the Amnesty page on our website www.irdstlucia.gov.lc.”