Roadtown, Tortola - Chairman of the Payroll Tax Review Committee (PTRC) Mr. Ian Smith has told the Department of Information and Public Relations that the series of public meetings held throughout the Territory were “fruitful”.

The meetings, which focused on seeking public feedback on the current payroll tax regime, ended on April 22 at the East End/Long Look Community Centre.  Mr. Smith said he considered the entire process very fruitful.  “The meetings were pretty good although there were small numbers in some locations; we received a lot of input and feedback from everyone who attended these meetings,” he said.

Mr. Smith praised the work of the committee members and said the experience was a rewarding one for him.  “I had a very good committee that was made up of experts in the different fields and they were excellent professionals,” he said, adding “everyone in the team pulled their weight and I am sure that when we go into final deliberation, the same spirit will continue as everyone wants to see an improved Payroll Tax Act for the betterment of the country.”

The committee will soon be going into their last phase which is the final assessment.  In this stage the committee will take into consideration their review of the Payroll Tax Act and the interim report that was done in the first phase and the external review with all the stakeholders, which included meetings with non-governmental organisations, statutory bodies, Government officials, self-employed persons and the public in addition to the findings of the payroll tax questionnaire.

According to the committee, the information and comments received will form part of the overall report which will be submitted to the Government on June 30, 2009. 
 
The committee is reminding members of the public that they can still obtain the payroll tax questionnaire at the Ministry of Finance and the Department of Inland Revenue in the Central Administration Building and at the District Offices on Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke.

The survey can also be completed online at www.finance.gov.vg and emailed to payrolltax@gov.vg. The completed questionnaires can be returned to the same locations.  The deadline for submission is Thursday, April 30. 

Members of the public who have already picked up and completed the payroll tax questionnaire are being asked to please return them to the locations already mentioned in order to facilitate the processing of the same.

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 Payroll Taxes Act.