Non-Resident Condo Property Taxes Increasing by 50% on January 1, 2019

[elephant_guy]

English language explanation of tax changes. Applies in the most part to both residents and non residents. Despite having to accept a big increase here myself, it's good to see Aruba making some things a bit better for it's poorest citizens whilst trying to make fiscally prudent decisions and attempting to pay off some of its very large deficit which has ballooned over the past few years.

https://www.overheid.aw/news/news_38...orm_38437.html

[GETA62]

They will raise property tax from 0.4 to 0.6% for non-residents home and cindi owners.
Also the 6% tax will be included in the invoices and receipts to avoid double taxation.
and of course they will increase “sin” tax on alcohol and cigarettes.

[Aruba4ever]

I will be honest it appears like the taxes have dropped big for the locals?

English language explanation of tax changes. Applies in the most part to both residents and non residents. Despite having to accept a big increase here myself, it's good to see Aruba making some things a bit better for it's poorest citizens whilst trying to make fiscally prudent decisions and attempting to pay off some of its very large deficit which has ballooned over the past few years.

https://www.overheid.aw/news/news_38...orm_38437.html

[GETA62]

I will be honest it appears like the taxes have dropped big for the locals?

Yes, in the same article says that senior citizens will not pay taxes and property taxes will be reduced for local people, depends on the value of the property.

[Andrea J.]

At one point, I read that Aruba is in the top 10% of the highest taxes in the world.

[robin]

Our property tax bill has arrived at the condo complex and they emailed it to us.

The 60,000 florin exemption is gone, so:
2018
valued at 745,000 fl
tax 2,982 fl

2019
valued at 805,000fl(the exemption is gone)
tax 4,833fl

difference in tax 1,851 fl or about $1,057 US more (about $1704 US to about $2762 US)

Yes, it is a big jump, however; we are paying about $8,000 a year on our house and our house in the US is assessed less(luckily it is really under assessed) than the condo.

[schexc]

Thanks For the post Robin. I’m sure ours will show up soon.

[lucky]

Wow,60% increase

[aquaman]

The tax office, Impuesto, has implemented a zero tolerance policy immediately . Many locals have not paid taxes in years. They were instructed to tighten up. Some discussions going on about things that I hope never get to see daylight. Talk of a non residency tax, possibly a one time surcharge. Amounts discussed are not paltry either.

[robin]

All of that is scary. They must think we are all rich and don't realize owning in Aruba is a stretch for many people. Don't they realize that if you put a large tax on owner that those owners have less to spend in restaurants, stores, etc. and if the owners rent, they pass that tax cost on to the renters who now have less to spend on dining, tours, and shopping? Wouldn't it be better to encourage people to spend while on the island rather than tax them?

As far as locals not paying taxes, that is something I heard too. When we went to register the car we were told many locals had not registered their cars since the last time they changed the license plates and it is one of the reasons the lines were very long.

The tax office, Impuesto, has implemented a zero tolerance policy immediately . Many locals have not paid taxes in years. They were instructed to tighten up. Some discussions going on about things that I hope never get to see daylight. Talk of a non residency tax, possibly a one time surcharge. Amounts discussed are not paltry either.