Jersey Publishes 2011 Budget Statement

by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London

21 January 2011

Details of Jersey's 2011 Budget, as amended and agreed by the States Assembly during its December 2010 debate, have been released by the government, confirming a raft of tax measures for 2011.

During the debate, the assembly set States spending at GBP690m in 2012 and GBP680m in 2013. These figures incorporate a minimum of GBP65m in savings which, together with agreed tax rises, are designed to balance States expenditure and income by 2013.

Welcoming the adoption of the measures, Jersey Treasury Minister, Philip Ozouf, said:

“We are making good progress with meeting spending challenges and reforming the public sector. 2011 will be a year with reform at the top of the agenda.”

"We are working to improve financial planning across the States; to redesign the way we buy goods and services and to reassess the way we provide many of our essential services.”

“The assembly has given a strong mandate for the Comprehensive Spending Review and I am determined to meet the savings target. Ministers are now overseeing the delivery of GBP65m in savings by 2013 and a modernization programme for the public sector that will revitalize the way we provide essential services.”

“I know it was not an easy decision to increase taxes for businesses and individuals, but the tax raising measures approved in the budget debate are essential to secure future financial stability and will help boost economic growth and job creation."

The following tax measures were agreed in the 2011 Budget:

Income Tax

• An increase to income tax exemption limits by 1.1%, in line with the increase in average earnings for 2010;
• To bring profits arising from the exploitation of land and importation of oil and related products in to the charge to income tax;
• To introduce changes to the Income Tax (Jersey) Law 1961 which will help the department to carry out enhanced compliance checks and increase the collection of tax that is properly due;
• The introduction of a GBP250 late filing fee for company tax returns which is the same as for personal tax returns;
• Changes to some tax calculations to make it easier for Jersey resident shareholders of companies to complete their tax returns; and,
• Introduction of amendments to provide greater clarity in the current pensions tax legislation.

Goods and Services Taxation

• Introduction of amendments to provide greater clarity in provisions which apply to GST registered businesses;
• Introduction of amendments to the late return penalty of GBP50, and late payment surcharge of 2.5%;
• An increase in the value of a gift from GBP10 to GBP100 before it is treated as a supply for GST purposes; and,
• The introduction of various other changes to provide greater flexibility for the business community.

Impôts Duty

Duty on alcohol, fuel and tobacco hiked by 6.2%, 4.9% and 11.1% respectively. This represents:

• 58 pence on a litre of spirits;
• 7 pence on a bottle of wine;
• 2 pence on a pint of ordinary beer;
• 35 pence on a packet of 20 cigarettes;
• 2 pence on a litre of unleaded petrol.

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