Imbert made this clear yesterday along with OPM Minister Stuart Young, who said the reported the $500 fine is not an issue since people may not fall into the category of non-compliance on the submission.
Both Imbert and Young slammed the “fear mongering, scare mongering and misinformation” by the Opposition and others on the fine and other aspects of the property tax exercise, which has begun with the issuing of valuation forms. Deadline for submission of this is May 22.
At yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, Imbert acknowledged that the tax issue can cause disquiet.
“I know people don’t like property tax - I and all vex with myself because I have to pay. I don’t like it. But T&T’s in a very difficult position and we need everyone to contribute to its revenue,” Imbert said.
“Unfortunately, this is one of the measures we must continue with. But we’ll try to make it as simple, easy and humane as possible.”
He said a communication plan will be rolled out from today, when Finance officials will answer queries and clarify matters.
“I told them to hit the road and get out there for the next two, three weeks and let people know about the situation.”
On the $500 fine which detractors claim will hit home owners who don’t meet the May 22 valuation form submission deadline, Imbert said the fine is stipulated in the Valuation of Land Law - now being used to govern the current property tax process. But he said he aspect was never enforced.
“I’m not aware of any instance where the Commissioner of Valuations has initiated the process for that fine. The fine is imposed by the courts - not us - where a magistrate will have to determine if conditions exist for the payment of the fine,” he said.
“The Finance Minister isn’t going to fine anybody, neither is the Commissioner (Valuations). What the VOL act says is if you don’t submit your Valuation Return form, the Commissioner may initiate the process. That leads to imposition of this fine if you’re found guilty by the court.”
He added: “Even though it’s never happened, it’s in the books and I’d leave that up to the judicial system - but certainly Colm Imbert wouldn’t be fining anybody $500. I’m not part of the judicial system.”
Imbert said the current property tax exercise doesn’t flow from the 2009 Property Tax Act of 2009 but from the Valuation of Land (VOL) act, in force for years. He said the act stipulates filing of the Valuation Return form being requested.
Forms are to state the property owner, property size, its purpose, number of rooms, rental value estimate and other information to assist the Valuation Division obtain a final assessment value of a property’s rental value.
Imbert said the filing of the form is a precursor to obtaining the actual valuation of a property, which then determines the tax to be paid later. The current exercise of identifying properties already on the rolls and those which aren’t is very far from the stage of Ministry valuators having to inspect properties, he noted. Much later on - after processes are completed - he said notices will be sent to owners informing them of the assessment rental of the property and informing them to pay a property tax of three per cent of the assessed rental.
Deeds not mandatory
Finance Minister Colm Imbert said yesterday that the current first stage of the property tax process involves residential properties that are on the rolls and those which aren’t. Out of T&T’s 400,000 residential properties, about 200,000 aren’t on the rolls, he added.
He said valuation return forms for commercial, industrial and agricultural buildings aren’t being sought yet.
Imbert explained the 13 documents home owners are asked to supply will be used to assist the Valuation Division identify properties - but all 13 - including deeds - aren’t mandatory for submission.
“I’ve asked public servants to explain the purpose of the requested documents and make the point that if you have a utility bill - TTEC, WASA, TSTT - that gives the address and your last (2009) Land/Building Tax receipt with the property’s assessment number, that will work to confirm the address once your property is already on the rolls,” he said.
“In many cases, the assessment number on that certificate will assist in helping place a value on the property.”
He said the additional documents requested are designed to deal with properties that aren’t on the system and never been assessed. He urged owners to provide as much material as possible, since if valuators feel additional information is necessary they’ll visit a property to examine it.
When the first batch of returns arrive, they’ll be matched against database information of TTEC, WASA, TSTT and Elections and Boundaries Commission as well as with aerial photos to see which owners haven’t submitted returns.
“Then the process will begin to determine such properties,” he added.
In the case of the impoverished who may be unable to pay, Imbert said he’s examining if to convert deferral of payment into a waiver so the descendants of the impoverished wouldn’t have to bear a tax burden later.
