Roadtown, Tortola - The Inland Revenue Department is urging all property owners and agents within the Virgin Islands (UK) who are in arrears with their land and house taxes to make a special effort to bring these taxes up to date.   

Senior Tax Inspector responsible for property Mr. Charles Benjamin told the Department of Information and Public Relations that it is important to pay property tax as well as any other tax which becomes due and payable.  “The tax which is paid on property goes into the general pool of revenue that Government collects and from this pool essential services are paid such as police protection, fire services, medical services and infrastructure, amongst other services,” he said.

Mr. Benjamin explained that under the law, persons in arrears can be taken to court and sued by the Commissioner of Inland Revenue.  “Property transactions which are intended to be registered by property owners at the Land Registry Department would not be permitted to be done unless all the taxes on the property are fully paid,” Mr. Benjamin added.

He said there are certain challenges the department is experiencing which include new owners not being aware of the property tax due. In addition, property owners are not fully aware of the legal description of their property, which is the registration section, block and parcel numbers.

“The registration section is the larger area where the property is located; the block number normally has four numbers and a letter and the parcel number is identified by a specific number from one to infinity, for example West End Registration Section, Block 2033B Parcel 100,” he explained.

 “If property owners are not fully aware of the legal description it becomes much more difficult for us in the tax office to be able to locate the property and we may not be able to disclose to the owner their tax obligation,” he said.

Property tax is due and payable from September 1 to November 30.  Persons in arrears are charged a penalty of 20% per annum for each year the taxes remain unpaid.  The Inland Revenue Department considers it the responsibility of all property owners to ensure that their property taxes are paid on time. Payments can be made at the Inland Revenue Department on Tortola and Virgin Gorda and at  the district officers on Anegada and Jost Van Dyke.  Persons can also mail their payment to the main office on Tortola.  The vision of the department is to be recognised as an efficient and effective tax administration dedicated to delivering customer services in an environment of integrity, fairness and mutual respect, thereby fostering voluntary compliance.

 For more information or assistance persons can contact the Property Tax Section in the Inland Revenue Department at (284) 494-3701 ext 2155.