- Prime Minister Philip Davis noted improved VAT collection since the 2021/2022 fiscal year but identified gaps in real estate transactions.
- VAT receipts increased by $210.4 million or 18.5 percent by the end of FY2023/2024.
- The government plans to introduce measures to capture VAT from real estate transactions more effectively.
- Changes to the owner-occupied property exemption were proposed to ensure equity in Real Property Tax.
- Foreign homeowners must now declare the number of days they reside in The Bahamas to qualify for exemptions.
- Homeowners residing over 90 days qualify for partial exemption; over 183 days qualify for full exemption.
- The government aims for greater accountability and alignment with international practices.
- David Morley of Morley Realty commented on the fairness of the new requirements for owner occupancy.
- Consistency in VAT rates is seen as beneficial for investors.
Source: ewnews.com
Note that this post was (partially) written with the help of AI. It is always useful to review the original source material, and where needed to obtain (local) advice from a specialist.
