BUSINESS SOLUTIONS LIMITED

Accountants - Advisors
ICATT Approved Firm

About Us

Our Services

What's New

Who We Serve

Our Location

WHAT'S NEW

CORPORATE AMNESTY   HIGHLIGHTS- BUDGET 2020   HIGHLIGHTS- BUDGET 2019   REVENUE AUTHORITY (TTRA)

CORPORATE AMNESTY     Given the COVID 19 restrictions, it is a welcome relief that there is in effect a Corporate filing amnesty for the period 27th March 2020 to 31st July 2020. AMENDMENTS TO THE COMPANY ’S ACT CHAPTER 81:01 REGARDING MANDATORY SHARE ISSUANCE REQUIREMENTS On May 6th 2020, both houses of Parliament passed an amendment to the companies act under the Miscellaneous Amendments Act, 2020. Once this Act is proclaimed, all for profit companies will be required to issue shares within a specified time frame. Notice of this issuance MUST be filed with the Companies Registry on the prescribed forms and with the specified time frame. WHO HAS TO FILE All for profit companies which were in incorporated prior to the coming into force of the amendment and who had not previously issued share capital. All for profit companies who are incorporated after the coming into force of the Act. DEADLINE FOR COMPLIANCE All for profit companies incorporated prior to the coming into force of the amendment will be required to issue shares within six (6) months of the proclamation of the Act All for profit companies incorporated after the coming into force of the Act are required to issue shares within 14 days of incorporation DEADLINE FOR FILING All for profit companies issuing shares as required above MUST file notice of such issuance on the prescribed forms within fourteen days of the shares being issued. PENALTY FOR NON COMPLIANCE Failure to file within fourteen (14) days of the shares being issued will result in a late filing fee penalty of three hundred dollars ($300) for every month or part thereof from the due date of notice until it is filed. JUST A REMINDER To file your beneficial ownership information with the Registrar of Companies. To use the new form to file your Annual Returns. The Old forms will not be accepted. TOP

HIGHLIGHTS- BUDGET 2020     In what is good news for taxpayers, the Finance Minister did not impose any new taxes. There were no increases in the tax rates either. This means that the tax rates from 2019 are still applicable. You can scroll down to check out these details. However the government intends to relay the Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority Bill in Parliament. The new Revenue Authority is designed to provide a significant increase in revenue collection for the country. TOP

HIGHLIGHTS- BUDGET 2019     Mr. Colm Imbert read the 2019 budget in Parliament on 1st October, 2018. TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS- INCOME TAX Income tax rates of the first million of 25% income earned, 30% on any balance thereafter. CORPORATION TAX Corporation tax rates remain the same at 30% for companies in all industries except the banking industry which has a rate of 35%. VAT The VAT rate is 12.5% and a VAT threshold of $500,000 Sole Proprietor/Self employed For sole proprietor’s the threshold for business levy increase from $200,000 to $360,000. Individuals per annum Additionally, the tax allowance for tertiary education will increase from $60,000 to $72,000 Self Employed The Board of Inland Revenue Department is expanding the staffing in the Audit and Taxpayer Departments by employing 150 additional staff to support members of the public in filing their taxes. These new officers have a targeted focus on the self-employed including doctors, lawyers, accountants and other professionals as well as small and medium-sized organizations with a view to making good on the revenues due and receivable to the State. The BIR is also building capability in the Customs and Excise Division to ensure that tax collection reaches optimal levels. ALL There will be an increase in penalty from $3,000 to $10,000 due to submission of fraudulent documents to support claims when submitting TD1s. ALL There will be an increase in penalty from $3,000 to $10,000 due to submission of fraudulent documents to support claims when submitting TD1s. ALL The rate of interest for late payment of taxes will increase from 15% to 20% per annum. ALL The penalty for fraudulent offences will increase from $50,000 to $250,000. ALL Property Tax: Notices to property owners will be issued for payment of Property Tax for the year 2019. This Tax will not be retroactive but will commence from the year 2019. ALL The threshold on stamp duties for residential proparties to be increased from $850,000 to $1.5m. This is effective 1st January, 2019   TOP

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO REVENUE AUTHORITY (TTRA)   What is the Revenue Authority? The Trinidad and Tobago Revenue Authority (TTRA) is the new proposed agency for the collection of taxes, investigation into tax evasion, the conduct of audits of tax payer's books and for border protection. It will replace the existing Board of Inland Revenue and the customs and excise division. When will it come into existence? The TTRA bill is currently before a joint select committee of parliament after which it will be laid in the House of Representatives. It could be a matter of months before the legislation is passed.(and is planned by the government to become law within a year) How is it different from the old tax collecting system? It is intended to eliminate corruption from the existing system and will be faster and much more agile than what existed before. The TTRA is moving to online submission, payment and collection of taxes. All intended to be faster, more efficient and transparent. What are the TTRA's powers? It will have powers to revamp and modernize the tax collection systems. The staff will be highly skilled and performance driven. It will make use of up to date computer technologies to identify the tax paying public and to ensure that everyone pays the taxes the TTRA believe are owed. Remember once you have a bank account, all your transactions can be inspected by the TTRA. What will it do? It will enforce the tax laws. Did you know the law requires every person engaged in any trade, business, profession or vocation to keep proper records and books of accounts, including records of annual inventory (stock). These records must be in the English Language and must be kept in the place of business or at the residence of the proprietor. Did you know that it is the law that the small business person MUST file an income tax return every year? How will it affect me? If you are self-employed as a doctor, lawyer, hairdresser, builder, mechanic, doubles vendor or if you run any kind of small business you should be keeping proper books of account, generating financial statements, submitting tax returns and paying taxes if necessary. What happens if I don't comply? The TTRA has the power to audit your books and make you pay penalties and fines for unpaid taxes on previous years as well as the current year. Not keeping proper books and records in itself can incur fines. Penalties and fines can be up to 100% of unpaid taxes. What to do to avoid these fines and penalties?   TOP