AMCHAM T&T Looks Forward To Global Forum Compliance

MEDIA RELEASE
07/02/2019

AMCHAM T&T is concerned about Trinidad and Tobago’s continued non-compliance with Global Forum requirements and is urging both Government and the Opposition to address the outstanding legislative requirements in the shortest possible time. We call on the Government and Opposition to conclude deliberations on the Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters Bill, 2018, and the Tax Information Exchange Agreements Bill, 2018 which are currently at a Joint Select Committee (JSC), and bring the required legislation to Parliament urgently. 

The Bills were introduced in Parliament in May 2018 and have been before a JSC since. Moreover, since the November 2018 deadline for passing the legislation, there has only been one meeting of the JSC on public record. AMCHAM T&T believes that the Government should move with alacrity to convene JSC meetings in order to bring the legislation to Parliament and pass these critical pieces of legislation. The Government should also update the country on the remaining steps to achieve compliance and the deadlines to meet these compliance requirements and we urge the Opposition to clearly identify their concerns so that both parties can work in a collaborative manner to pass the legislation.

We believe that information from external entities such as the Global Forum and the EU regarding the required steps, timeline, and consequences for failing to meet deadlines should be clearly articulated and the relevant supporting documentation be made public.

AMCHAM T&T is deeply disappointed by the continued delays, posturing, and political wrangling that are contributing to the lack of passage of the critical legislation that will contribute to compliance.

In addition to the non-compliant rating under the OECD tax transparency standards, the Council of the European Union, another body responsible for setting tax governance standards, included Trinidad and Tobago in its list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes. Further non-compliance with the stipulated deadlines could pose major challenges for the operations of financial institutions and in turn, gravely affect our ability to do business with the rest of the world. To avoid the penalties of non-compliance, such as stricter reporting requirements and multinationals and loss of correspondent-banking relations, among other things, it is imperative that legislators on both sides of the House commit to passing the legislation forthwith. 

We trust that our legislators will put politics aside to ensure that the interests of Trinidad and Tobago come first.

END.