Land Tax Department’s IS

1. Land Tax Department’s IS by Lorriston Howell Land Tax Department

2. Land Tax Department :- main functions • The 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.

3. Land Tax IS - Background From the ground, up • Island is mapped by 97 sheets • Each property has a unique Map Reference Number.

4. Land Tax IS - Background • Each sheet is divided into 16 equal grids.

5. 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.

6. 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

7. Aerial view of Queens Park

8. Land Tax IS • Map Reference Number • Name & Address of Vendor • Name & Address of Purchaser • Date 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? • With 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

9. Land Tax IS • Sale 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 Number • Name & Address of Vendor • Name & Address of Purchaser • Date 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?

10. Land Tax IS • Tax 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.

11. Land Tax IS • The 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.

12. Land Tax IS • Management 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.

13. Land Tax IS • Executive 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.

14. Land Tax IS • Questions