With all the more formal and big revenue generating taxes now in force inAnguilla, the traditional dog tax appears to have slumped into insignificance. But, according to the Comptroller of Inland Revenue, Ms. Gecheal Richardson, dog tax is still very much accounted for in the budget.
Ms. Richardson told The Anguillian: “For the 2012 Budget, dog tax represents just about $50,000. Whereas it is not a huge amount, it is something that is mandated by law. We do have a Dog Licence Act and therefore we have to collect it. Once a person is an owner of a dog, four months and over, he or she is liable to pay that tax.
“The month of April commences dog licencing, and to date we have collected over $17,000. That is not the amount that would be expected, based on the number of dogs on the island which is over 2,000. The number of dogs listed in the census should raise $50,000 in licences.
In the past, the Police embarked on shooting unlicenced dogs inAnguilla, notwithstanding the inhumane nature of the exercise. But this practice now appears to have been discontinued.
“We do not normally send reminder letters to dog owners. It is incumbent on them to know that they are required to pay this licence and to come in to pay when it commences,” Ms. Richardson stated. “From time to time, we work with the Police and they would go around the communities checking to see if dogs are licensed. The licensing month of April has just passed and any time soon the Police will be going around making their checks.”
So far many persons voluntarily went to the Department of Inland Revenue to pay the dog licences. The Comptroller is hoping that others will do the same without unnecessary coercion.
