July 23, 2003 – The increased road tax and the new 4 percent personal use tax on items imported into the territory, both signed into law by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull on July 14, are now in effect, Government House has announced.
The 4 percent tax is being levied on the value in excess of $1,000 of all items imported for personal use. It's being calculated on the basis of invoices and is being collected at all ports of entry and at post offices, according to a release.
For items valued at $1,000 and more, the law does not allow any exemptions from the personal use tax, Louis Willis, Internal Revenue Bureau director, said. The tax may be paid by certified check, money order, Visa and MasterCard credit cards or debit cards, he said.
The highway user tax is now 16 cents per pound, up from 11 cents. It's levied on all vehicles brought into the territory that require registration. This is the first change in the tax since 1973, Willis said.
Individuals should bring "the bill of lading, the title and/or the bill of sale" when they come in to pay the tax, commonly called the road tax, the release stated. This tax may be paid by cash, certified check, money order, Visa and MasterCard credit cards, or debit cards other than those from the Bank of Nova Scotia.
Willis said neither tax may be paid by personal check. He said not accepting personal checks is an old policy that works.
For more information, call the Internal Revenue Bureau at 714-9312.
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