Antigua: Patrick Ryan, Head of the Antigua and Barbuda Business Alliance (ABBA), wants the government to scrap the current tax system and replace it with one more equitable and fairly implemented, according to a Caribarena Antigua report.
Except the Antigua Chamber of Commerce, the ABBA includes the major private sector entities, the Antigua Hotels and Tourist Association, the Employers federation, the Cruise Tourism Association, the Tour Operators Association and the Airlines Association.
Ryan said that the current move by the government to begin taxing allowances and benefits will only compound the problems inherent in the current system and does not feel that the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has the manpower, resources, nor expertise to go after the 80 percent of businesses that are not currently paying their fair share of the tax burden.
The Caribarena report said that the businessman stated, “Foreign direct investment was one of the attractions Antigua & Barbuda had prior to the introduction of personal income tax, this move only makes us less attractive to investors".
The ABBA Head called on the government to reform its systems and protocols to make them more effective and efficient and for measures to make the country more attractive to foreign direct investment. He warned that should the government ignore this advice and go ahead with implementing the measures, there will be a backlash from the public, and many businesses may fail.
You must be logged in to post a comment.