Roadtown, Tortola - The Payroll Tax Review Committee (PTRC) is preparing to hold its first public meeting to seek feedback about the current payroll tax regime on Monday, March 23 at the Sir Rupert Briercliffe Hall at 7:30 p.m.

Chairman of the PTRC Mr. Ian Smith, during a Government Information Service Radio Report, urged the public to attend and participate in the meetings.  “The public’s participation is critical to this process because the process started with public concerns over the existing act and as a result this committee was formed,” Mr. Smith said.

He added that the payroll tax affects everyone in the Territory.  “Everyone is affected by the payroll tax and any issues, concerns or recommendations that you have would be taken into consideration by this committee and included in our final assessment,” he said.

PTRC Resource Person, Mr. Arnold Lettsome, also encouraged the public to participate in the process.  “It is the public who has to pay the tax and the taxes are expected to go toward the improvement of the country’s infrastructure,” he said, adding, “the public’s views of the tax and their opinions should really shape the way the tax is to go and they are to be very concerned and willing to give their input.”

On March 26 the committee will continue the series of public meetings at the East End/Long Look Community Centre.  On April 1, a similar meeting will be held on Virgin Gorda at the Ashford Waters Community Centre and on April 2 at the Abraham Leonard Community Centre in Carrot Bay. All meetings will begin at 7:30 p.m. 

The meetings on the sister islands of Anegada and Jost Van Dyke will be held on April 4 and 16 at the Emile E. Dunlop Community Centre at 2:00 p.m. and at the Jost Van Dyke Primary School at 10:00 a.m., respectively.

The committee has already met with a number of organisations including the BVI Bar Association, the Taxi Association, BVI Association of Professional Accountants, BVI Contractors Association, BVI Association of Registered Agents, and all Government statutory bodies.

A payroll tax questionnaire is currently being disseminated around the Territory. Members of the public can obtain the survey at the following locations: the Ministry of Finance and the Department of Inland Revenue, Central Administration Building and the District Offices on Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke and online at www.finance.gov.vg.  The completed questionnaires can be returned to the same locations.  The deadline for submission is April 30.

According to the committee, the purpose of the meetings and the survey is to determine public opinion on the current payroll tax regime.  Information and comments received from the public will form part of the overall report which will be submitted to the Government later this year. 

The Payroll Tax Review Committee was appointed by Government on June 23, 2008.  The responsibilities of the committee are to review the Payroll Tax Act, 2004; identify inconsistencies within the Payroll Taxes Act, and make recommendations for amendments, or if deemed to be so, repeal the Act.