The 1% increase in Sales Tax was announced in the Budget Speech 10 days ago - and most thought that - like everything else in the budget - it would become effective in the new fiscal year which starts in April. But in what's being called a sneaky move: government put the 9% sales tax into effect on Friday. Since then - the sales tax office has been calling thousands of businesses across Belize to tell them that effective immediately - sales tax should be charged at 9%.
The sudden implementation has caused havoc for businesses - but that's hardly a concern for central government, which apparently hopes to net the additional revenue as a windfall for the current fiscal year.
The Chamber of Commerce executive - which has been silent since the hike was announce - met on the matter today and is expected to issue a statement deploring the lack of consultation and hurried implementation.