Land Tax Department’s IS

by Lorriston Howell

Land Tax Department

Land Tax Department :- main functionsThe valuation of all real property in Barbados on a

triennial basis. The preparation of a Valuation Roll and a Land Tax Roll. The collection of Property Tax. The Valuation of properties under the Land

Development Act and the collection of Land Development Duty.

Other functions include the assessment of property for the Government for the following purposes:-

Property Transfer Tax. Compulsory Purchase Cases. Negotiated Sale or purchase of property. Valuations may also be done for private persons on

request for a fee.

Land Tax IS - Background

From the ground, upIsland is mapped by

97 sheetsEach property has a

unique Map Reference Number.

Land Tax IS - BackgroundEach sheet is

divided into 16 equal grids.

Land Tax IS - Background• Enclosures

are defined within each grid according to physical boundaries, e.g. road, plantation boundaries, fences.

• Any number of enclosures.

• Depends on density of individual holdings (parcels) in area.

Land Tax IS - Background• Enclosure consists

of Parcels• Map reference

number consists of SheetNo.GridNo.EnclosureNo.ParcelNo/CheckDigit

• Check digit 0 – 9, X (generated by an algorithm to provide data entry validation)

• Example of complete Map Reference Number 80.06.02.001/9 :- Queens Park

Aerial view of Queens Park

Land Tax ISWith every transfer of

ownership of land, there is a legal requirement to notify the Department of the transfer via a Notice of Change of Ownership form.

Supplied by the Attorney-at-Law for the vendor

Map Reference NumberName & Address of VendorName & Address of

PurchaserDate of Agreement, Date of

Conveyance.Description of property i.e.

Lot no, Street, District, Parish, size in sq metres, Sale Price, Is a building included in sale?, Interest being transferred (Fee Simple, Tenants in Common, Joint Tenancy, Lease), Consideration other than money, is Purchaser a company?

Land Tax ISSale information is analysed

by Valuer . Is it an “arm’s length” sale? What is the relationship between the Vendor and Purchaser? The Consideration!

Determine market values, value of similar properties in similar locations.

One swallow does not make a summer. Aristotle, Nichomachean EthicsGreek critic, philosopher, physicist, & zoologist (384 BC - 322 BC)

Tax Roll is updated by Valuer to reflect new ownership.

Map Reference NumberName & Address of VendorName & Address of

PurchaserDate of Agreement, Date of

Conveyance.Description of property i.e.

Lot no, Street, District, Parish, size in sq metres, Sale Price, Is a building included in sale?, Interest being transferred (Fee Simple, Tenants in Common, Joint Tenancy, Lease), Consideration other than money, is Purchaser a company?

Land Tax ISTax payable is generated by Billing Module

and stored in database.Cashiers use Transaction Processing System

to accept payments and issue receipts to customers. Property is identified by Map Reference number.

Tax records are updated to reflect payments.MIS reports on revenue collected and

outstanding.

Land Tax ISThe Commissioner

of Land Tax may offer for sale by public auction any lands in respect where taxes are due.

This option is only employed as a last resort and where the department has exhausted every avenue to ensure that the tax liability is fulfilled.

Land Tax ISManagement

requests a list of all properties owing in excess of $3,000 for example.

Excel queries database via ODBC connection

Information is delivered in an Excel spreadsheet.

Land Tax ISExecutive Information System – Identify the

revenue that will be lost/gained in relation to previous years, if rates were to be changed. How many pensioners will be affected? How many villas?

What if - Tax amnesty?Determine a rate which will be revenue

neutral.

Land Tax ISQuestions