2. FINANCIAL SERVICES

2.1 How do I get a Certificate of Assessment?

Some banks and financial institutions require a Certificate of Assessment before tending monies on a building or property.

If the property has already been assessed, the procedure is as follows:

(1) Go to the Warden's Office/Revenue Office in the Ward in which the property is located.

(2) Take with you either a Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) Bill or previous Land and Building tax receipt. Arrears on Land and Building Taxes must be paid before a certificate of assessment could be granted.

(3) The Certificate will be signed and stamped by a Senior Officer of the relevant Department.

If assessment of the property is necessary, the owner of the building should proceed to the nearest Revenue Office/Warden's Office in his/her area and give the relevant information which will then be forwarded to the Valuations Division. An acknowledgment slip will be given at this point. The member of the public is advised to return to a Revenue/Warden's Office after a period of four to six (4-6) weeks to receive the Certificate of Assessment.

The District Revenue Services/Warden Offices are listed below.

Warden Offices

Beacon Bldg, 78 Independence Sq., Port of Spain .. .. ..... .... ..... ..... ....... ....... 627-2311 625-2886

New Lands, La Brea .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ..... ......... ........... ... ..... ..... ...... .... ...... ...648-7542

District Revenue Offices

Prince Street, Arima .. .. .. .. .. ..... .... .... ..... ..... ..... ..... .... ..... ...... .... ... ..... .667-3473

Railway Road, Couva .. .. .. .. .. ....... .... ... .... ..... ... .... ..... ...... ..... .... ..... ... 636-2594

Eastern Main Road, Tunapuna .. .. .. ...... .... ..... ..... ..... ..... ... ..... .... ..... .... ..662-2797

Jerningham Street, Scarborough .. .. .. .. .. ..... ..... ..... ..... ...... ..... ... ..... ..... ...639-2652

Bonasse Village, Cedros .. .. .. .. .. .... ..... ... ..... ...... ....... ..... ..... ..... ..... .... ..628-2701

Railway Road, Chaguanas .. .. .. .. .. ... ... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... ... .... ..... ..... 665-5869

Techier Main Road, Point Fortin .. .. .. .. ... .... .... ..... ..... .... .... ... .... .... .... ...648-3223

A.D. Mohammed Building, High Street, Princes Town .. ..... .... ... .. .... ..... .... 655-2410

High Street, Rio Claro .. .. .. .. .. .. .... ... ..... ... ... ... .... ..... .... ..... .... ... ..... ...644-2241

Toco Main Road, Sangre Grande .. .. .. .. .... ..... .. ..... ... .... ..... ..... ..... ..... ...668-2518

Kings Wharf, San Fernando .. .. .. .. .. ... .... ..... ..... .... ... .... ..... ..... ..... .... ...652-2556

High Street, Siparia .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ...... ..... .... ...... ..... ..... ..... ..... .... ..... ..... .649-2415

Toco Morne Cabrite Road, Toco .. .. .. .. ..... ..... ..... ...... ..... .... ...... .... ... ....670-8254

2.2 How do I get a Tax Clearance Certificate

The Board of Inland Revenue is responsible to the Ministry of Finance for collecting all taxes due. A Clearance Certificate is required for purposes of tendering for Government contracts and other purposes. This can be obtained from the offices of the Board of Inland Revenue which are located at:

2nd Floor, Trinidad House, Edward Street, Port of Spain

Trintoc Employee Credit Union Building, Southern Main Road, Marabella

Sangster's Mall, Sangster's Hill, Scarborough, Tobago.

2.3 How to apply for VAT Registration

What is VAT?

VAT or Value Added Tax is a tax applied on the value added to goods and services at each stage in the production and distribution chain and is included in the final price the consumer pays for goods or services.

Who is required to Register?

Any person who conducts a business activity and who makes commercial supplies with a gross value in excess of $120,000 in any 12-month period is required to apply for registration for Value Added Tax (VAT).

List of Requirements for VAT Registration

Sole Proprietors

1. VAT 1 application form, all boxes to be completed.

2. If using a trading name, certificate of registration of business name.

3. Board of Inland Revenue assignment of file number or an assessment notice.

4. Projected Income Statement for the next 12 months, signed and dated by preparer/owner.

5. Evidence to substantiate that the business intends to make commercial supplies of $120,000 the coming year; or

Evidence to substantiate that the business has made commercial supplies over $10,000 in the month immediately preceding its quest for registration by the VAT Office.

All applicants will be interviewed and they are to produce some form of identification at the interview.

The Value Added Tax Certificate of Registration (VAT 3 ) will be delivered by a (Field) Tax Officer.

Partnerships

1. Completed VAT 1 application form signed by partner.

2. VAT 2 application form, with the names, home addresses and signatures of all partners.

3. If there is a partnership name other than the names of the individual partners, supply the certificate of registration of business name issued by the Registrar General's Office.

4. Assignment of Board of Inland Revenue File Number for the partnership.

5. Evidence to substantiate that the business has made commercial supplies of over $10,000 in the month immediately preceding registration; and/or

6. Projected Income Statement for the next 12 months (signed and dated by preparer/owner) to show that the business intends to make over $120,000 in commercial supplies in the year following its VAT Registration.

All applicants will be interviewed and they are to produce some form of identification at the interview.

The VAT Certificate of Registration will be delivered by a (Field) Tax Officer.

Other Business, e.g., Joint Ventures, Clubs

1. VAT 1 application form, signed by a sole proprietor, partner or director involved in the joint venture.

2. VAT 2 application form, signed by the members/partners or directors of the joint venture.

3. If name is required to be registered, e.g., co-operative, documentary evidence of such registration.

4. Signed and dated projected income statement or cash flow for the next 12 months.

5. Evidence to substantiate that the company has made commercial supplies of over $10,000 in the month immediately preceding the application for VAT registration.

All applicants will be interviewed.

Produce some form of identification at interview.

The VAT Certificate of Registration (VAT 3) will be delivered by a Field Tax Officer.

Companies

1. VAT application form signed by director of the company.

2. VAT 2 application form with the names of all directors, their home addresses and signatures.

3. Certificate of Incorporation (original and copy).

4. Articles and Memorandum of Association.

5. Evidence of the Assignment of Board of Inland Revenue File Number and P.A.Y.E. Number.

6. Evidence to substantiate that the company has made commercial supplies of over $10,000 in the month immediately preceding registration; and/or

7. Evidence to substantiate that the business intends to make over $120,000 commercial supplies i.e., a signed and dated cash flow projection for the year following the business registration by the VAT Office.

All applicants will be interviewed and they are to produce some form of identification at the interview.

The VAT Certificate of Registration (VAT 3 ) will be delivered by a (Field) Tax Officer.

Transfer of ownership of a branch / division or entire business

What type of transfer -

(a) Is the business a gift to you?

(b) Have you incorporated your business?

(c) Have you purchased the business?

(d) Have you inherited the business?

The following must be supplied:

(1) Documentary proof of any of the above must be supplied by the purchaser/new owner. The original and copies of these documents are needed. The originals will be returned.

(2) Where the business is transferred, the former owner of the business must supply a letter detailing the circumstances of the transfer and, apply for cancellation of the VAT Number if he is no longer continuing in business.

In Receivership

Receiver must supply documentary proof by way of Court/Bank/Mortgage Finance Houses appointing him a receiver of the business in question.

Display of VAT Certificate of Registration (VAT 3)

The Certificate of Registration must be displayed at the place of business. If you have more than one place of business, you are required to display a Certificate of Registration in each place. You will need to inform the VAT Administration Centre in writing of the number of these business places and their respective addresses. You will then be provided with the required number of certificates.

How often will VAT returns have to be submitted?

The period covered by the VAT return is referred to as the tax period. The standard tax period is two months. Persons registered for VAT will be required to submit a return and remit any VAT due for each two-month period. There are two categories for the two-month tax period. One ending on the last day of the even months in the year, and the other on the odd months of the year.

The VAT Administration Centre will advise each registrant as to which Category he has been assigned.

Where are the VAT Offices?

# VAT Administration Centre

P.O. Box 280

20, St. Vincent Street

Port-of-Spain

Telephone: 623-4VAT/623-4828

# San Fernando: TECU Building

Southern Main Road

Marabella

# Tobago: Sangster's Hill Mall

Milford Road

Scarborough

 

 

Courtesy Ministry of Public Administration and Information