On Friday, the Belize Tax Service published a list of businesses and individuals who have major tax arrears: business tax, GST and P.A.Y.E. The figures range from a few thousand dollars for a tortilla factory to many millions of dollars for a fishing cooperative. But it's more than just not paying - they say these entities have been non-compliant despite numerous efforts to work with them. The director general explained via Zoom that this is only the first step and if those on the list continue to default, they will have to take much more drastic measures.
Michelle Longsworth, Director General, Tax Administration
"This notice actually serves as a final call to those who have remained delinquent in the payment of taxes. The objective here and I know there's a lot being said but the objective here is not really to embarrass anyone but to reinforce I believe the message that the tax obligation does not just disappear if you don't pay it. Taxes, as you rightly know, fund critical service within our public service so it is unfair, it places unfair burden on others that actually do pay their taxes so it's important that everyone pays their taxes. So this list comprises of individuals and businesses who we the Belize Tax Service have attempted to work
with, some of whom we've even taken to court. Many have failed to engage or tried to settle their obligation despite efforts for us to settle amicably. These are not just late filers or non filers, they're willfully noncompliant. So these are persons who we've exhausted all our collection efforts and now these are the enforcement actions we're taking. This is the first step of our enforcement action because going further, in accordance with the TAPA, when publication has not resulted in compliance, because this is asking them to please comply with us, we will then move to the next set of legal enforcement measures. That includes issuing of warrants to level goods and assets, placing lien on their property and where applicable, imprisonment. We don't want to go there."
The list also includes NORTHERN FISHERMEN COOPERATIVE SOCIETY - which owes over 8.7 million dollars - BOSCO SUPERMARKET, PAULINO'S FUNERAL HOME, REYNALDO MALIK, ELRINGTON & COMPANY and others.
