A paper as part of the JCC-hosted seminar on "Economic Revitalization through the Mobilisation of the Construction Sector" in Trinidad and Tobago.

1. PROPERTY TAX ?
OR
A TAX ON PROPERTY

2. PROPERTY TAX
REVENUE EARNER
OR
MANAGEMENT TOOL

3. PROPERTY TAX
SYSTEM OF RECORD
OR
A SYSTEM OF REVENUE COLLECTION

4. PROPERTY TAX
A SYSTEM OF TAXATION
OR
A SYSTEM OF FINANCING

5. MUTUAL EXCLUSITIVITY
NOTWITHSTANDING THE USE OF THE CONJUNCTIVE ‘OR’ ABOVE, NOTHING SAID SO FAR
IS MEANT TO BE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE. WHAT IS INTENTED IS AN ATTEMPT TO WIDEN
THE CONVERSATION ON PROPERTY TAXATION BEYOND THE COMMONLY HELD VIEW THAT
A PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM IS ONE THAT SIMPLY COLLECTS REVENUE EITHER BY THE
REVENUE DEPARTMENT FOR DEPOSIT INTO THE CONSOLIDATED FUND OR BY THE LOCAL
CORPORATION TO FUND THEIR ANNUAL BUDGET IN PART. IF ALL THAT IS INTENDED IS
TO COLLECT REVENUE TO FUND ANNUAL BUDGETS THEN THE ACCOMPANYING
POWERPOINT PRESENTATION PRESENTED TO THE ISTT IN 2009 DEALS REASONABLY
ADEQUATELY WITH THAT. HERE WE WILL LOOK AT THE OTHER ATTRIBUTES OF A
PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM.

6. PROPERTY TAX AND PLANNING
PLANNING IN TRINIDAD & TOBAGO IS MARRED BY THE PREVALENCE OF PLANNING
VIOLATIONS OCCURING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. WHAT IMPACT WOULD A
SERIES OF PENALTIES AND RELIEFS HAVE ON PLANNING COMPLIANCE OR LACK
THEREOF.
WHAT WOULD BE THE EFFECT ON DIRECTING DEVELOPMENT IN A CERTAIN MANNER
OR TO A DESIRED LOCATION BY WAY OF TAX INCENTIVES BASED ON TAX RELIEFS OR
VICE VERSA.

7. PROPERTY TAX AND LAND
OWNERSHIP
MANY PERSONS HAVE EXPRESED UNEASE IN THE MAINTENANCE OF
THEIR OWNERSHIP OF LANDS IN THE ABSENCE OF THE EVIDENCE OF
CONTINUED OWNERSHIP OF LANDS WHICH A RECEIPT OF PAYMENT
OF TAXES GAVE PRIOR TO 2010. WHILE THE PAYMENT OF TAXES DID
NOT IN ITSELF DEVOLVE TENURE ON THE PAYOR, IT SERVED NOTICE
TO THE BONA FIDE OWNER THAT SOME OTHER PERSON WAS SEEKING
TO ESTABLISH PRESCRIPTIVE RIGHTS TO THE LANDS THEY OWN.

8. PROPERTY TAX AND PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT
AS INHERITORS OF THE FEUDAL SYSTEM OF LAND MANAGEMENT ONE NEEDS TO CLARIFY THE
ROLE OF THE STATE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF LANDS WITHIN THE LAND MASS THAT IS TRINIDAD
AND TOBAGO AND BEYOND IN THE CONTEXT OF THE MINERAL RESERVES WHICH IS THE LIFELINE
OF OUR EXISTENCE. THE SYSTEM WE INHERITED MAKES THE STATE THE ULTIMATE OWNER OF
ALL LANDS IN THE JURISDICTION, INCLUDING LAND ‘COVERED BY WATER’. THE MONACHIAL
“WE” HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE CONSTITUTIONAL “WE” BUT HAVE WE ACCEPTED THE
RESPONSIBILITY THAT ACCOMPANIES THAT CHANGE. EVERY OWNER OF LAND IN THE
JURISDICTION EXERCISES THAT ‘OWENERSHIP BY VIRTUE OF A DOCUMENT ISSUED BY THE STATE,
BE IT A LAND GRANT; CERTIFICATE OF TITLE OR ‘OLDLAW’ DEED AND THE PRACTICE OF
‘ESCHEAT’ TO THE STATE STILL EXIST IN CURRENT LEGISLATION.

9. PROPERTY TAX AS A FINANCING
MECHANISM
PROPERTY TAX IS BY ITS VERY NATURE A WEALTH TAX. AS A GENERAL STATEMENT IT IS
STILL ACCURATE TO ASSOCIATE AFFORDANCE WITH THE USE AND OCCUPATION OF
LAND. IT IS THEREFORE A NATURAL CONSEQUENCE THAT SUCH A TAX WILL BE ‘AD
VALOREM’ OR BASED ON THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY TAXED. CONSIDERED WITH THE
MANAGEMENT CONCEPT OF THE TAX, THE RELAVANCE WHETHER THE TAX IS A PAYMENT
INTENDED TO DEFRAY THE OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM OR A CONTRIBUTOR TO THE
GENERAL REVENUE. THIS QUESTION IS ANSWERED IN SOME JURISDICTIONS BY ADD-ONS
TO THE BASIC TAX IN THE FORM OF PAYMENTS TO SPECIFIC SERVICES RENDERED BY
THE STATE THROUGH ITS VARIOUS FORMS OF GOVERNMENT.

10. CONCLUSION
LET US IN CONCLUSION ASSUME THAT THE PROPERTY RECORDS RESULTING FROM
THEINTRODUCTION OF A PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE REVENUE
ACCRUEING FROM THE SYSTEM. SUCH A SYSTEM WILL HAVE AT ITS CORE, THE OBJECTIVE OF
RECORDING IN SOME FORM EVERY TAXABLE PROPERTY UNIT IN THE JURISDICTION. SUCH A
RECORD WOULD INCLUDE (BUT NOT LIMITED TO):
• A DEFINITION OF THE TAXABLE UNIT;
• THE PERSONS CLAIMING OWNERSHIP OF THE VAROUS INTERESTS THAT MAY
EXIST IN THE UNIT;
• THE OPTIMAL USE TO WHICH THE PROPERTY MAY BE PUT;
• THE VALUES, BOTH CAPITAL AND RENTAL, OF THE UNIT;
• THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE TAX;

11. CONCLUSION
WITH THIS REPOSITORY OF INFORMATION, DEALINGS IN LAND WILL BECOME
A ROUTINE PROCESS. LAND ACQUISITION AND DISPOSAL PROCESSES
INCLUDING NEGOTIATIONS WILL BE SIMPLIFIED AND THE LIMITED
GUARANTEE AFFORDED HOLDERS OF CERTIFICATES OF TITLE WILL BE
STRENGTHENED.

12. THANK YOU