27 February 2019
The Treasury Minister is disappointed that the States Assembly has deferred its debate on the draft Revenue Administration Law, which is an important step towards the transformation of Jersey’s tax system.
If approved, the proposed new law would:
- facilitate modernisation of tax administration and the introduction of online filing and assessment in 2020
- introduce interest charges on late payments, and credit interest on repayments
- create more civil penalties, which can be used instead of criminal prosecutions when people fail to meet their tax obligations
The Revenue Administration Law is designed purely to address the way the tax system is administered, it does not propose any changes to the way tax bills are calculated.
The Treasury Minister, Deputy Susie Pinel, said: “I am disappointed that the Assembly has referred back this proposed law. It is frustrating that the Assembly chose to mix the issue of married couples’ taxation with matters of tax administration, as these are two very different issues.
“I am equally frustrated that the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel went against its own findings and recommendations. I will now work with my officers to provide the required information to the Assembly by the end of March. I hope we can debate this law again by the end of April.”
Technical tax policy issues – such as modernising the taxation of married couples – are contained in the 1961 Income Tax Law, which is also under review. Recommendations on the modernisation of the personal tax system will be brought forward in the Government Plan later in the year.
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