Residents and visitors in Brittons Hill, St. Michael are advised that C.O. Williams Construction Ltd. will be conducting roadworks at Brittons Hill on 4th Ave Reece Road and Laynes Road starting Monday, March 17th, 2025 for approximately two weeks.

Roadworks will take place each day between the hours of 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM. Persons should expect noise and dust in the surrounding area.

Although both roads will remain open, motorists are advised to use alternate routes where possible to avoid delays. The Ministry of Transport and Works asks motorists to obey signage and directions given by flagmen, and to proceed cautiously through the roadworks.

The Ministry of Transport and Works, and C.O. Williams Construction Ltd, apologies to members of the public for any inconvenience caused during the roadworks.

4th Ave Reece Road

Laynes Road

Residents and visitors in Wildey, St. Michael are advised that Infra Construction Inc. will be conducting roadworks on the ABC Highway (North) from Highway R to the Samuel Jackson Prescod Institute Roundabout starting Friday, March 14th, 2025 for approximately seven days.

Roadworks will take place each day between the hours of 8:30 PM and 5:30 AM. During this time, access to this section of the ABC Highway will be restricted to public transport and emergency vehicles only. Persons should expect noise and dust in the surrounding area.

Motorists are advised to drive towards Bridgetown via Wildey Main Road, turning right onto Pine Plantation Road just after KFC (see map), and then turning right at the traffic lights to re-join the ABC Highway (North) via Pine East West Boulevard (see map). Persons travelling away from Bridgetown via Collymore Rock Road should turn left onto Pine Plantation Road just before KFC (see map), and then turn right at the traffic lights to re-join the ABC Highway (North) via Pine East West Boulevard (see map).

The Ministry of Transport and Works, and Infra Construction, apologies to members of the public for any inconvenience caused during the roadworks.

Resilience and Regeneration Fund

The 0.1% Catastrophe Fund within the National Insurance scheme will be abolished and replaced with a 0.25% Resilience and Regeneration Fund that will not be subject to the insurable earnings ceiling and therefore will be calculated on the full amount of a person's salary.

Excise Tax on Salted Food Products

Effective from June 1st, 2025, a 20% Excise Tax will apply to salted products such as pringles, lays, salted nuts, tortilla chips and salted crackers (e.g. ritz).

Corporation Tax on Profits from Mortgage Products

It is proposed that the Corporation Tax rate on profits derived from residential mortgages valued over BBD $250,000 which are offered pursuant to the Mortgage Insurance Act, Cap. 233 will be reduced to 9%. This brings the standard rate of Corporation Tax rate under that Act in line with the standard rate of Corporation Tax for other companies under the Income Tax Act, Cap. 73.

It is also proposed that Corporation Tax on profits derived from residential mortgages not exceeding BBD $250,000 which are offered pursuant to the Mortgage Insurance Act, Cap. 233 shall be reduced to 4.5%.

Personal Allowance for Persons of Retirement Age

Effective from Income Year 2025, the Personal Allowance will be increased to BBD $50,000 for persons of retirement age who are in receipt of a pension.

Property Transfer Tax on Real Estate Transfers

Effective April 1st, 2025 for a period of three years, the Property Transfer Tax will be zero-rated for real estate not exceeding 1 acre in size that is transferred via a deed of gift to the child or children of the homeowner.

Abolition of Visitor Driving Permits

Effective July 1st, 2025, the Visitor Driving Permit regime will be abolished. In its place, a daily car rental fee will be introduced, at a rate of BBD $10 per day. However, visitors are still required to present a valid foreign driver's licence.

Deposit Protection Scheme for Tenants and Landlords

It is proposed to expand the remit of the Barbados Deposit Insurance Corporation to hold the security deposits on behalf of tenants and landlords, and to act as a neutral third party in the event of claims on security deposits at the end of a tenancy agreement.

This scheme will likely not apply to existing tenancy agreements, but will be compulsory for new tenancy agreements once the scheme is brought into force.

Solidarity Allowance for NIS Contributors

Any person who is 18 years of age or older who:

• is a contributory or non-contributory pensioner; or
• has made National Insurance contributions within the last 12 months; or
• is claiming the invalidity benefit, the special needs grant or welfare benefits

is eligible for a one-off solidarity allowance of BBD $300, as long as the person has been ordinarily resident in Barbados for the past 12 months (i.e. since April 1st, 2024). It must be claimed by June 30th, 2025.

Airport Service Charge for Regional Travel

Between July 1st, 2025 and June 30th, 2026, the Airport Service Charge for regional travel within CARICOM will be reduced from USD $35 to USD $20.

Food and Beverage Concessions for Restaurants

Restaurants not on a hotel compound which earn more than 60% of their income in foreign currency will be eligible to register as a tourism provider under the Tourism Development Act, Cap. 341. Such restaurants will be eligible for food and beverage concessions in respect of wines and proteins.

Value Added Tax on Electricity Supply to Residential Properties

The reduced rate of Value Added Tax of 7.5% on the first 250 kWh of electricity for residential properties will be extended until March 31st, 2026.

Import Duty and Value Added Tax on Certain Fruits

Effective April 1st, 2025, Import Duty and Value Added Tax will be zero-rated on pears (not avocados), mandarins, grapefruits and plums.

Value Added Tax on Commercial Kitchen Equipment

Effective April 1st, 2025 until March 31st, 2027, Value Added Tax will be zero-rated on commercial kitchen equipment that falls under Tariff Heading 7321.8418 for restaurants and cook shops.

Income Tax Allowance for Union Membership Fees

The Income Tax allowance for union membership fees will be increased to BBD $360 and will retroactively apply to Income Year 2024. Therefore, taxpayers will be able to claim the increased allowance during next month’s filing period.

Annual Increases to National Minimum Wage

Effective January 1st, 2026, the National Minimum Wage will automatically increase by a minimum of 2% each year.

Maternity and Paternity Leave

Maternity leave will be increased to 14 weeks for a woman who gives birth to a single child, and 17 weeks for a woman who gives birth to more than one child during a single pregnancy. The eligibility criteria will change so that a mother will still be eligible for maternity leave even if the child is born outside Barbados as long as the mother is ordinarily resident in Barbados.

Paternity leave for fathers will be introduced from June 1st, 2025. Men will be entitled to three weeks' paternity leave.

Effective June 1st, 2025, it will no longer be a requirement for both parents to be living together when the child is born in order to access these benefits.

Since July 2018, a fuel tax has been levied on gasoline and diesel at a rate of BBD $0.40 per litre. This resulted in the road tax becoming zero-rated for private vehicles (except for first-time registrations of new and used vehicles in which the road tax is BBD $400). Despite this, motorists were still required to visit the Barbados Revenue Authority each year to renew their vehicle's registration disc, even though it is now a BBD $0 transaction.

Historically, vehicle owners were required to visit the Barbados Revenue Authority with their insurance documentation to pay the road tax and receive the registration disc for their vehicle. However, since road tax was abolished for private vehicles in 2018, private vehicle registration is now tied to insurance compliance only.

When private vehicle insurance policies are renewed, insurance companies are required to transmit this information to the Barbados Licensing Authority. Going forward, vehicle owners can obtain their annual registration disc in electronic form via the Barbados Revenue Authority's Find Registration Card online service by supplying the vehicle's licence plate number, chassis number and engine number. It is no longer necessary to visit the Barbados Revenue Authority in person.

Please be advised that the Barbados Revenue Authority's payment centre at Warrens Tower II has been reopened.

The first floor of the BRA office is for vehicle registrations, and the second floor for other payment transactions and customer service.

Persons who are registered under the Profession, Trade and Business Registration Act, Cap. 373 are reminded that the deadline for renewing their registration and paying the prescribed annual fee is January 31st, 2025. Any person who fails to pay the prescribed fee before the deadline will also be required to pay a penalty of the same amount.

It is now possible to pay the annual licence fee online via EZPay+, the official payment gateway of the Barbados Government.

Please note it is not possible to use EZPay+ for first time registrations. Persons who are not registered will need to attend in person to have their documentation authenticated and to pay the prescribed fee.

For first time registrations with the Registrar of the Supreme Court, visit the Registration Department at Whitepark Road.

For first time registrations with the Chief Labour Officer, visit the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector at the Warrens Office Complex.

If you are self-employed, learn more about professional registration to determine if you need to register under the Act.

Persons who are self-employed are reminded that National Insurance contributions for 2024 are due by January 15, 2025.

Self-employed individuals are required to contribute a minimum of BBD $1,200 per year, regardless of their income level, in accordance with the Third Schedule to the National Insurance and Social Security (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 2023.

Please be advised there are two upcoming bank holidays, during which many businesses will be closed:

New Years Day on Wednesday, January 1st, 2025.

Errol Barrow Day on Tuesday, January 21st, 2025.

Please be advised there are two upcoming bank holidays, during which many businesses will be closed:

Christmas Day on Wednesday, December 25th, 2024.

Boxing Day on Thursday, December 26th, 2024.

Persons are advised that the seasonal influenza vaccine is now available at all polyclinics, and is particularly recommended for healthcare professionals and frontline workers who are at greater risk of exposure; individuals with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as asthma, diabetes or hypertension; persons over the age of 65; and pregnant women.

Members of the public are reminded to bring their Barbados ID when visiting their nearest polyclinic to receive the vaccine.