M&CC owed in excess of $2B in taxes on commercial properties – Deputy Mayor

Georgetown: More than 400 businesses and government offices owe the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) in excess of $2B for commercial properties, Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green disclosed.
She said since the commencement of the amnesty only residents have been responding to the City Council.
M&CC had announced that it was granting amnesty on taxes owed for the entire month of September.
Based on the figures compiled so far, Chase-Green said it is evident that the businesses owing have not been paying their taxes for many years. “We are trying to encourage them to come in. The waiver is between 50 to 75 percent, but depends on the circumstances, we can work something out,” she said.
According to her, the trend of some business people is to only pay their taxes when there’s an amnesty, while there are those who genuinely have financial problems.
Meanwhile, Customer Care Officer Debra Lewis informed recently that companies and businesses must apply to the council for between 50 to 75 percent amnesty on interest on taxes while residential properties will receive 100 percent amnesty on interest.
Property owners are advised to check with the City Treasurer’s Department so that they can be guided on the use of the provision offered.
She said the Council has considered the socio economic issues in Georgetown, which affected citizens’ ability to honour their civic obligation and it is also cognisant of the fact that many of the property owners are pensioners and retired public servants.
“The Council anticipates that this facility would encourage citizens to honour their civic obligation and also, allow the municipality to garner much needed revenue. The council also reiterates that all properties used solely for public religious worship, those properties used exclusively for the purpose of education, burial ground, cemetery or crematoriums are also exempted from paying property taxes