Nov 18 - GSD Urges Government To Crack Down On Arrears
The GSD has called on the Government of Gibraltar to collect arrears from everyone, not just Government tenants, with the top 30 debtors now owing the government more than £4million in income tax and more than £3million in social insurance payments.
A spokesman for the GSD said: "Over the last four years the GSD Opposition has spoken out about the need to tackle the culture of entitlement. We believe that this is even more necessary as a consequence of BREXIT.
"Consistent with our policy we have been supportive of Government attempts to recover the staggering amounts due in respect of Government arrears, including arrears of rent. These efforts, however, cannot be focused primarily on Government housing tenants. It must be applied across the board.
"In this context the GSD Opposition was shocked when, in answer to parliamentary questions on 28 October 2016, the Government revealed what is owed by the top 30 debtors in respect of PAYE, social insurance, Corporate tax, personal tax and other Government arrears.
"For example, one entity owes £582,402.73 in respect of PAYE and £306,069.88 in social insurance and another owes £364,113 in respect of PAYE and £316,998 in social insurance. The top debtor for rates owes £590,127, the top debtor for personal tax owes £320,978 and the top debtor for corporate tax owes £359,008."
The totals owed by the top 30 debtors in each area are as follows:
PAYE: £4,437,325.25
Social Insurance: £3,233,960.92
Personal Tax: £2,924,424.79
Corporate Tax: £3,211,980.55
Rates: £1,469,977.70
Electricity: £394,848.64
Daniel Feetham, the Leader of the Opposition, said: “These are very substantial figures. We cannot just pursue ordinary people living in housing estates. Everyone has to pay their share.
"It should also be borne in mind that the Government owes taxpayers £30 million in tax rebates in respect of which, only £10 million is to be repaid in this financial year.
"Many of these people owe Government no money at all and it is doubly unfair on them not to be paid by Government and then see these debtors owe such significant sums. On Friday we will be asking the Government further questions about this issue including what action is being taken to recover these debts.”
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