NASSAU, BAHAMAS: The Opposition is calling for an immediate pause of the Government’s One Tax Bahamas rollout, warning that the sweeping overhaul of the country’s tax administration system is being rushed without sufficient consultation, privacy safeguards or preparation for the business community.
Free National Movement Leader Michael Pintard in a statement argued that the initiative, scheduled to launch on September 1, represents a significant public policy change rather than a routine modernization exercise.
The new digital platform will eventually require every taxpayer to obtain a unique 10-digit Bahamas Identification Number (BIN) to access and manage tax services through a single portal.
“This is a sweeping and unprecedented expansion of the Government’s tax administration apparatus that will ultimately require every Bahamian taxpayer to obtain a unique government-issued tax identification number as a condition of accessing tax services,” Pintard said.
“That is a major public policy change, not an administrative update.”
Pintard questioned the absence of the Minister of Finance from the public rollout, arguing that an elected official should explain and defend a policy that fundamentally changes how taxpayers are identified and their information managed.
He also criticised the implementation timetable, warning that businesses may not have adequate time to understand the new system, test its functionality, train employees and adjust their operations.
“A project of this magnitude should be preceded by extensive consultation, public education, pilot testing, and parliamentary scrutiny,” Pintard said.
The Opposition leader also raised concerns about the centralisation of sensitive personal and commercial information. He said the Government has not adequately explained who will have access to the data, which agencies will be permitted to share it, what cybersecurity safeguards will be employed or what remedies will be available if taxpayer information is compromised.
Pintard questioned which business organisations, taxpayers, privacy specialists and small businesses were consulted during the platform’s development.
“Government should be designing systems with the public, not imposing systems on the public,” he said.
The Department of Inland Revenue has said One Tax Bahamas will replace the fragmented arrangement under which VAT and business licence services are managed through the One Tax Administration System, while real property tax and other obligations are handled on separate platforms.
Controller Shunda Strachan previously announced that the first phase would focus on registration for the new BIN.
“One Tax Bahamas officially launches to you, the Bahamian people, on the 1st of September,” Strachan said.
Taxpayers will need to obtain a BIN before registering for other taxes and accessing services through the portal. The number will eventually allow individuals and businesses to manage real property tax, VAT, business licences and other government-related transactions.
The BIN will also be required to import goods and is expected to become the vendor identification number for individuals and businesses receiving government payments.
The existing Tax Identification Number will remain the unique identifier for VAT, while the BIN will provide access to a wider range of tax information and services.
The rollout will be conducted in phases. BIN registration begins September 1, while VAT and business licence modules are expected to launch in November. The real property tax module is scheduled to come online in 2027.
Businesses will require a BIN for the 2027 business licence renewal period. Fourth-quarter VAT returns will continue to be filed through the existing system, while filings for the first quarter of 2027 and beyond will be processed through the new portal.
“There’s no need for panic because we have started early,” Strachan said. “BIN registration, like I said, starts September 1, but really, you’re going to need your BIN for the upcoming 2027 business licence renewal period. So, we’re saying to people, come in early, start early.”
Strachan said the Oracle-based platform should improve the department’s capacity to manage heavy online traffic, particularly during the annual business licence renewal period. Training sessions and online tutorials are also expected to assist taxpayers.
However, Pintard maintained that the Government must provide significantly more information before proceeding.
“The rollout should be paused,” he said. “The Minister of Finance should come before the Bahamian people and explain why this universal tax identification system is necessary, what laws govern its use, how privacy will be protected, who will have access to taxpayer information, what consultations were undertaken, and why such a profound change is being rushed forward with so little notice.”
