Bahamas News
BAHAMAS: Government to Provide Tax Relief to Individuals and Businesses
#Bahamas, May 31, 2018 – Nassau – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. K. Peter Turnquest said in its bid to meet its commitments to Bahamians and provide tax relief to individuals and businesses, this Bahamas Government Administration is, effective August 1, eliminating Value Added Tax (VAT) on all breadbasket items, with the exception of sugar, as sugar will – for health reasons – be removed from the list of breadbasket items.
DPM Turnquest was presenting the 2018/2019 Budget Communication in the House of Assembly, Wednesday, May 30, 2018.
He said this would mean the elimination of VAT on the following items:
Butter- Cooking Oil
- Mayonnaise
- Grits
- Cheese
- Corned Beef
- Evaporated Milk
- Margarine
- Rice
- Flour
- Bread
- Tomato Paste
- Baby Cereal
- Baby Formula
- Soup
- Broths
- Baby Food
- Powdered Detergents
- Condensed Milk
- Soaps
- Fresh Milk
- Mustard
The DPM said the Government is eliminating VAT on medicines; residential property insurance.
“We are waiving VAT on residential electricity bills at or under $100 and water bills at or under $50; for clarity, this is not for the first $100 or $50 in a person’s bills, but it is targeted at those bills which come in at or under the stated amounts. For electricity customers, this would impact over 30,000 BPL households alone. For water customers, this would impact some 43,000 Water & Sewerage customers.
“This waiver will be applicable to all licensed utilities in the country.”
He said the Government is increasing the Customs personal travel exemption from $300 to $500 per person; it is providing for the VAT zero-rating of fund-raising activities held by charitable organizations; it is implementing various concessions in respect of Real Property Tax, Customs duties, Excise duties, Business License fees and Stamp Tax in favour of designated Economic Empowerment Zones, beginning with the “over-the-hill” community; it is providing for the waiver of duty on clothing and shoe imports upon application by importers and retailers of same.
DPM Turnquest said this will be extended to any merchant, large or small, who has a business license for the sale of clothes or shoes. We are at the same time putting in place procedures to ensure that the savings are passed on to consumers. This will be a benefit to all Bahamians, but particularly to those who do not have the means to travel abroad to shop for their clothes like others are sometimes able to do.
He said the Government is providing duty-free entry for goods for use in the commercial printing industry, as well as for processing and garment manufacturing equipment without the need to apply for specific concessions as before.
It is eliminating duties on solar kits upon application to the Ministry of Finance. Presently solar panels are duty free, and this new allowance will mean that vendors or individuals who are bringing in full solar kits can have all related elements brought in duty free.
It is reducing duties on floor tiles and fabric softener and extending the 0.75 per cent Business License fee rate, currently applicable to hotels with turnover over $400 million, to all hotels with 10 rooms or more so that smaller Bahamian-owned hotels can take advantage of the concession that was offered to the larger foreign-owned properties.
The Government is extending the duty exemption to church buses eight years old or less from the current limitation that limits the concession to buses that are three years old or less; we are providing an exemption from Business License fees for all schools that are registered with the Ministry of Education; and we are eliminating the duty on airplanes and helicopters in an effort to build an Airplane Registry Industry within the country.
By: Llonella Gilbert (BIS)
Photo Caption: The Government of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas presented its 2018/2019 Budget Communication in the House of Assembly on May 30, 2018. Pictured on the steps of Churchill Building prior to the walk to the House of Assembly, Prime Minister, Dr. the Hon. Hubert Minnis (centre left) and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Hon. K. Peter Turnquest (with red briefcase that contains the Budget Communication document) pause for a photograph before leading members of the government across Rawson Square.
(BIS Photo/Kemuel Stubbs)
RBC Royal Bank (Bahamas) Limited (“RBC”) is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Kerryl-Lyn King-Henry as Country Manager and Area Vice President (“AVP”), Personal and Commercial Banking, Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI).
In her new role as Country Manager and AVP, King-Henry will take on full responsibility for the bank’s operations, strategy, and development in the TCI market, with a strong focus on solidifying partnerships with the Government, regulatory bodies, and the local community.
King-Henry brings to the role a dynamism influenced by nearly 25 years of industry experience. Prior to her new appointment, she served as AVP of Business Banking in Trinidad and Tobago. She has held progressively senior roles within both personal and commercial banking, as well as various functional units.
King-Henry holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, with a specialization in Leadership, FinTech and Big Data Analysis, in addition to a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. Further enriching her professional profile, Kerryl-Lyn is a certified John C. Maxwell Coach, Trainer, Teacher, and Speaker. Her passion for leadership and development is matched by her commitment to community service, as she actively volunteers her time and leverages her professional expertise to mentor and support others. “
Kerryl-Lyn’s extensive experience and proven leadership capabilities make her the perfect choice to lead our operations in the Turks & Caicos Islands,” said Ericka Rolle, RBC’s Managing Director and Vice President, Personal Banking, The Bahamas and TCI.
“Her commitment to excellence, combined with a genuine passion for community engagement, aligns perfectly with our Bank’s purpose of helping clients thrive and communities prosper. We are excited to see the positive impact she will undoubtedly bring to her new role,” she added.
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