The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The Tax Coalition’s chairman yesterday pledged to hold the Government’s "feet to the fire” over unresolved Value-Added Tax (VAT) issues, amid last-ditch efforts to prevent any “falling through the cracks”.

Gowon Bowe, speaking to Tribune Business before yesterday’s meeting between the Coalition and industry heads, and Ministry of Finance officials, emphasised that the private sector was seeking to hold the Government accountable on all outstanding VAT concerns.

While the ‘list’ of all such matters would be a “working document” going beyond the January 1 implementation date, Mr Bowe said the Coalition wanted the document made public so all businesses knew where they stood.

The meeting between private sector and the Government was still going on as Tribune Business went to press, but Mr Bowe said the business community’s approach was not to “hold a gun” to the Government’s head.

Yet he acknowledged that it would be a “Grinch Christmas” for many in the private sector, as they rushed to complete last-minute VAT preparations.

Mr Bowe added that it was, in some respects, a “be careful what you wish for” scenario, where business relief that the Government had moved the VAT implementation date was tempered by the fact it is being rolled-out at a “difficult time”.

The Tax Coalition chair said yesterday’s meeting with the Government was intended to ensure there was a complete ‘outstanding VAT issues’ list, along with details on how they would be resolved.

While some specifics might be absent, Mr Bowe said the private sector might settle for having just a complete list, “so that industry representatives are comfortabnle nothing has fallen through the cracks”.

“People are looking for codified responses and codified solutions,” Mr Bowe told Tribune Business. “While they might not get everything they want at this point in time, at least we have some clarity in terms of issues identified. That’s the most important thing.

“Hopefully, we can keep their [government] feet to the fire and have that listing in the public domain, so persons can see the matters raised.

“It’s not holding a gun to their head, but that they are accountable for the matters raised, and whether we have issues completely answered or if they need further deliberation.”

Acknowledging that VAT was distracting many businesses from the most important sales period of the year, Mr Bowe added: “It’s a bit of a Grinch Christmas, as we have to work through some of this and not sit back and enjoy the season, but it is the day [January 1] we chose.

“Be careful what you wish for. The date was moved, but this is not the easiest time. Yet these are sacrifices we have to make. Everyone appreciates the time delay.

“The most important thing is to focus and see if people have the clarity and answers they need, so they can do what they need to do.”