An online calculator to help people in Guernsey work out whether they’d be better or worse off under GST+ cost the States “about £8,000”, a spokesperson has confirmed to Express.
The calculator allows islanders to put in their household income and expenses and lets them know whether they’d be better or worse off under the proposed GST+ package.
GST+ was agreed in principle by the last States, though it is highly unpopular with many members of the public.
The States is also considering five other tax reform options, which would not involve any form of sales tax, though the sub-committee looking into them hasn’t given its recommendation yet.
The States spokesperson confirmed to Express there were “no current plans” to create a similar calculator for any of the other tax reform options or for the impact GST+ would have on local businesses.
Promise met
The calculator was developed after commitment made during a recent livestream on Facebook, hosted by Deputies Lindsay de Sausmarez and Gavin St Pier.
Members of the public had “asked questions about how they, given their own individual or family’s financial situation, might be affected” by GST+.
There had been “confusion and uncertainty” about what the GST+ package would mean for islanders, the spokesperson said.
As well as introducing a Goods and Sales Tax, the GST+ package includes a 15% lower rate of tax on the first £32,400 people earn as well as a £600 increase in the personal allowance.
“The majority of households would be no better or worse off compared to now if those proposals were to be introduced, and this tool gives people themselves the opportunity to assess how it could affect them,” the spokesperson added.
P&R was “currently exploring alternatives” to the GST+ package and would make a recommendation in the summer on the “kind of tax reform would work best in Guernsey, once all the options have been fully assessed”.
