All you need to know about Personal Income Tax !
What is Income Tax?
Income Tax -is a tax levied on the income of individual’s corporations, or other legal entities.
Who is required to pay Income Tax?
Corporations, trustees, sole traders, partners within partnerships and all employees who earns in excess of $3,000 monthly or $36,000 per annum.
What is employment Income?
Section 31 of the Income Tax Act of 1994, states that employment Income of any person for any year of assessment shall include:
· Any amount accrued by way of wages, salary, leave pay, fee (including director’s fee), commission, bonus or gratuity in respect of employment in Grenada.
· Any travelling, entertainment or other allowance to the extent to which it does not represent a repayment to the employee of moneys wholly, exclusively and necessarily expended by him in the performance of the duties of their employment.
· The rental value of any quarters or residence provided by reason of the employment.
· The value of any other benefit or advantage received or enjoyed by the employee by reason of the employment.
· Any pension payable to a former employee or the dependent of a former employee by the trustees of a pension fund in respect of the employment.
. Any loan or advances by a controlled company to a shareholder deemed to be employment income.
What are the rates of Income Tax?
· There are two rates for calculation of Income Tax
· The first $36,000. per annum is exempt
. $36,001 up to $60,000. at the rate of 15%
· In excess of $60,000 at the rate of 30%
Every person who is resident in Grenada is entitled to a deduction of $36,000. from his/her assessable Income.
Example 1:
Employment income $ 48,000.00
Exempt amount $ 36,000.00
Total taxable income $ 12,000.00
Tax payable at 15% $ 1,800.00
Example 2:
An employee receives the following gross income per annum:
Salary $ 40,000.00
Housing allowance $ 18,000.00
Entertainment allowance $ 9,000.00
Total: $ 67,000.00
The following Income tax deductions are made from his/her salary :
Total income from above $ 67,000.00
Exempt amount $ 36,000.00
Excess $ 31,000.00
Therefore $ 24,000. x15% $ 3,600.00
Therefore $ 7000. x30% $ 2,100.00
Total Income Tax Due $ 5,700.00
NB The income from all the sources have to be reported.
Example 3:
Employee salary $ 40,000
Benefits $ 27,000.
Profit from business $ 10,000.
Salaries from other employment $ 20,000
Total $ 97,000.00
Less exempt Income $ 36,000.00
Total taxable Income $ 56,000.00
Total payable at 15% $ 3,600.00
Tax payable at 30% $ 9,600.00
Total tax payable $ 13,200.
Returns
Every employee who earns in excess of $60,000 perannum are required to submit an Annual Income Taxreturn within ninety days after the end of the accounting period (fiscal year). Any amount due should be paid when submitting the return.
NB—Every employer who pays remuneration to hisemployees, shall deduct tax there from in accordance with the mannerspecified in the Fourth Schedule of the Income Tax Act and shall carry out such other obligations as imposed by that Schedule.
When is the Tax Due?
The Tax is due and payable within ninety (90) days after the end of your financial year, but deducted monthly by theemployer in the case of an employee and paid within seven (7) days after the end of the month during which the tax wasdeducted.
Where can I pay?
The tax can be paid to Inland Revenue Division, or anyDistrict Revenue Office. Cheque (s) should be written to the Government of Grenada.
Interest
Interest of 1 1/2% per month or part thereof is charged on any unpaid balance.
Offences
Civil Penalties- You have ninety days after your accounting period to file your return. If you fail to furnish a return on time you shall incur a penalty of $100 or 10% of the taxes unpaid, whichever is greater.
Criminal penalties- The law provides for criminal proceedings to be taken against persons who do not comply with the Laws.
Appeals
Any person who is aggrieved by an assessment or a determination by the Comptroller made on him may, by notice in writing to the Comptroller within thirty days after the date of the notice of assessment or determination, or within such further time as the Comptroller may for good cause allow, object to the assessment or determination.
Process of Appeal:
· An objection shall be sent to the Comptroller who would consider any valid objection and by notice in writing inform the objector of his decision.
· Any person who is aggrieved by a decision of the Comptroller may, by notice of appeal, appeal therefrom to the Appeal Commissioners.
. Upon hearing of an appeal, the Appeal Commissioners may confirm, increase or order the reduction of any assessment or make such other order as they think fit.
. The comptroller or the appellant may appeal to the High Court from any decision of the Appeal Commissioners which involves a question of law, including a question of mixed fact and law.
What Income are exempted?
· Any amount accrued by way of gratuity on the termination of a contract of employment, except in the case of a contract of employment with the Government.
· Any gratuity payable to a public officer on his retirement from the service or to his legal personal representative after death.
· So much of the amount as does not exceed twenty fivethousand dollars for severance pay payable under a contract of employment upon the termination of the employment of an employee by reason of the redundancy of the position held by the employee, but the exemption shall apply to the severance pay payable to the employee only once in a period of seven years.
· Any benefit payable under the National Insurance Act to any person by way of
- sickness benefit
- invalidity benefit
- maternity benefit
- funeral grant
- any child allowance payable as a survivor’s benefit.
There are other exemptions for Income Tax, please refer to Section 25 in the Income Tax Act 1994.
