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Local Items: Tax update
Bonaire Talk: Local Items: Archives: Archives 2005 - 2006: Archives - 2006-03-01 to 2006-07-31: Tax update
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Martin de Weger (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #4336) on Sunday, May 7, 2006 - 5:00 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We received the following information today from TCB.

/bold{IMPORTANT: Bonaire's Government Announces Revisions to Bonaire's New Tax Structure}

As you are aware since the Island Council voted in December 2005 to change Bonaire's tax structure the Tourism Corporation Bonaire has been working very hard with the government to refine and finalize the new structure.

In light of the feedback we received from our stakeholders and in an effort to ensure that the final levy is equitable and that it be instituted in a seamless manner the government has decided to rework the format of new tax structure. Therefore, the information previously posted in March 2006 regarding the Island Tax is no longer valid .

At this time, the Government has not finalized the revisions to the tax structure and is planning to have this task completed in the coming weeks. What we can tell you now is that the government aims firmly at July 1, 2006 for the introduction of the new tax structure, and not June 1st as previously announced. Arrangements will be made for bookings made prior to this date that include the current room and car rental tax in the package.

We apologize for any inconvenience this might have caused , but in the end the tax structure that will be implemented will be a less complicated one that benefits visitors to Bonaire as well as the island itself.

Please note that as long as the new tax structure does not go into effect, the existing one remains applicable.

We will be back in touch in the coming weeks with more information but in the meantime if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact any Tourism Corporation Bonaire office.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3337) on Sunday, May 7, 2006 - 7:43 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Thanks, Martin! First I have heard of this. Like I always say, the only thing certain in life is change. Not surprised as this tax thingie is a big change.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Carole B. (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5593) on Sunday, May 7, 2006 - 8:25 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

We all (visitors and residents) can only hope they come up with something fair and equitible for all, all around. Definitely something less complex than the one they had proposed/changed. Thanks, Martin. Carole

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ruth van Tilburg (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #554) on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 12:02 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Things like this make new ideas seem easy compared to the actual logistics and implementation. I wonder if that letter to the editor in the BR a few weeks ago opened some eyes. I don't remember who wrote it, but it really pointed out many of the difficulties the tax collectors would face with the original tax rules. The whole 'who are you/where do you live & where are you going' interrogation that'd be necessary would (to me) seem like such a discriminatory kick in the butt on your way out. You-$20, you-$75, huh? It'd feel like sitting next to someone on the same plane who paid half what you did. Not a happy ending at all.
:-0

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Vince DePietro (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #305) on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 6:12 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

That's good news.. Maybe now they'll give some consideration to those who own property on the island but are not legal residents.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3338) on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 7:36 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Vince, that would be great, we had sent a letter to TCB as we do own property requesting that they consider some sort of reduction for those types of individuals as well. Time will tell.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Glen Reem (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2377) on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 11:17 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

There is far more discussion about the tax change and it's implementation going on among businesses on-island and the government than we imagine here. I believe they are trying to 'get it right' on both sides.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jake Richter - NetTech (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5837) on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 1:51 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Well, no matter what, taxes are not fair. But what's been proposed is not nearly as bad as everyone seems to be kvetching about.

I'm in Los Angeles for the E3 show this week and switching hotels today so I got a bill under my door for last night's stay.

My hotel room at this first hotel was listed as $229 for last night. My room tax was $32.06 - a 14% room tax! And on a $399 room rate last week in New York City, I was charged $56.87 in taxes (state, city, and a Javitts fee) - that's 14.25% in taxes. Ouch!

Figure out what a 14% tax would result in for the average Bonaire resort stay, and I think you'd find it was quite a bit more than $75/person for a 2 person stay. Granted, for cheaper digs, that might not be the case.

Jake

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ann Phelan - www.bonairecaribbean.com (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2226) on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 1:53 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

The hotels taxes I will be paying in Puerto Rico are 22%!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Debbie Babcock (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #3339) on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 3:49 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

Ouch!!!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By seb (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #2789) on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 6:36 pm:     Edit PostPrint Post

What do non resident owners shell out yearly tax wise? Is it different from residents? It is some major airport fee shock though.


Jake, the City sales tax rate is 4 percent (in addition to the New York State sales and use tax of 4 percent and the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District surcharge of 0.375%), for a total Sales and Use tax of 8.375 percent, plus 5% occupancy tax, and $3.50 per day fee. Plus we whacked you at the airport for a use fee or two I'm sure.

Just be glad they don't continue the scheme below to $400.00, adding another 5%. They used to when we had 18+% hotel taxes, and no conventions.


Tax Rates
Hotel Room Occupancy Tax is based on the day rate [“rent”] being charged for a room:

If the rent for the room is…
The tax will be…

$10 or more, but less than $20
50 cents/day + 5 percent of the rent

$20 or more, but less than $30
$1.00/day + 5 percent of the rent

$30 or more, but less than $40
$1.50/day + 5 percent of the rent

$40 or more
$2.00 per day + 5 percent of the rent


In addition, beginning April 1, 2005, all hotel operators in New York City that are required to collect the New York State and City sales taxes on hotel rooms must also collect an additional fee of $1.50 per unit per day. This fee is in addition to the State and City Sales taxes and the New York City Hotel Room Occupancy Tax. For more information, please refer to New York State Department of Taxation & Finance Memorandum TSB-M-05(2)S.

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Vince DePietro (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #307) on Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 5:54 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Seb..To my knowledge there is no difference with respect to property taxes between resident & non resident owners. Of course income taxes are a whole different animal!

 

Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George Purcell (New BonaireTalk Poster - Post #8) on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 12:03 am:     Edit PostPrint Post

Lovely...our stay will be on both sides of the changeover!

 


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