Do I have to pay property tax in Trinidad and Tobago?

The repeal and its date

Section 17 of the Finance Act 2025 (Act 14 of 2025) says: "The Property Tax Act is repealed." Section 23(1) brought section 17 into force on 1 January 2026. No property tax is charged for 2026 or any later year. The Finance Act 2026 (Act 16 of 2026) did not bring it back.

The repeal does not revive the land and building taxes that the Property Tax Act replaced (Interpretation Act (Chapter 3:01), s 27(1)(a); Property Tax Act (Chapter 76:04), ss 55–57).

What was charged before the repeal

The Property Tax Act came into operation on 1 January 2010, but payment was waived for every year up to 31 December 2023 (s 52A, as amended by the Finance Act 2023 (Act 15 of 2023), s 6). So property tax itself could be charged only for 2024 and 2025. Separately, arrears of the old land and building taxes from before 2010 were kept alive as if due under the Act (s 54(1)).

From 1 January 2024, the residential rate was 2% of the "annual taxable value" (Schedule I, as amended by the Property Tax (Amendment) Act 2024 (Act 3 of 2024)). That was the annual rental value fixed by the Commissioner of Valuations, less any 10% allowance for voids and loss of rent made by the Board of Inland Revenue (ss 3, 13, 14). The last extension order for 2024 made that year's tax payable by 20 December 2024 (Legal Notice 199/2024). Tax for 2025 was payable on 30 September 2025 (s 33(1)), but the Board first had to serve a notice of assessment, by 31 March (s 17(1)). That time was extended only to 30 June 2025 (Legal Notice 115/2025), and in its budget statement for 2026 the Government said it had "halted" property tax. If no 2025 notice was served for the land, it is doubtful that any 2025 tax can now be collected.

Tax still unpaid from before 2026

Unless the repealing law shows a contrary intention, a repeal does not "affect any right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired, accrued or incurred" under the repealed Act, and proceedings to enforce it can still be brought (Interpretation Act, s 27(1)). The Finance Act 2025 contains no saving, waiver or refund provision for property tax. So tax that fell due before 1 January 2026 was not wiped out by the repeal.

• An unpaid bill. Tax not paid on time attracted a 10% increase and interest at 15% a year, unless the Board was satisfied that the late payment was not the owner's fault, and the Act let the Board waive penalties and interest where that was just and equitable (Property Tax Act, s 34(3)–(4)). Whether interest kept running after the repeal on 1 January 2026 is not settled. Get the Board of Inland Revenue's position on the full amount in writing.
• Deferred tax. The repeal does not cancel tax the Board deferred on hardship grounds. A deferral was granted for 2 years at a time (Property Tax Act, s 23(3)). If the owner dies while it runs, the tax becomes payable at once out of the estate, although the Act let an heir facing undue hardship apply for an exemption (s 27).
• Buying or selling. Unpaid tax, with any 10% increase, is a charge on the land until paid (Property Tax Act, s 32(1)), and the repeal does not remove that charge (Interpretation Act, s 27(1)(c)). Registered land is subject to unpaid taxes even if they are not noted on the title (Real Property Act (Chapter 56:02), s 46). A buyer's attorney may therefore ask for proof that 2024 tax (and 2025 tax, if a 2025 notice was served), and any old land and building tax arrears, were paid.
• Tax already paid. The repealing Act provides no general refund. A refund already due under the Act, for example after a successful objection, is not affected (Interpretation Act, s 27(1)(c)).

Landlords: the landlord business surcharge

From 1 January 2026, landlords pay a separate surcharge on rental income, not on the value of the property (Miscellaneous Taxes Act (Chapter 77:01), Part XVII, inserted by the Finance Act 2025, ss 18, 23).

• Anyone who receives rent must register with the Board and pay a one-time fee of TT$2,500, however many premises they let (s 81(1), as amended by the Finance Act 2026, s 23). The registration deadline was extended twice, most recently to 30 June 2026 (Legal Notices 87/2026, 368/2026). A buyer who goes on letting the property has 30 days from becoming owner to register (s 88).
• The surcharge is a flat rate on the whole of the quarter's gross rent: 2.5% where that rent is $20,000 or less, and 3.5% where it is $20,000 or more (the Act puts exactly $20,000 in both bands). It is payable for each quarter. Late payment adds 5%, plus interest at 15% a year (s 83(2)–(4), as renumbered by the Finance Act 2026, s 23(f)).
• Receiving rent for unregistered premises is an offence, punishable by a fine of up to $250,000, imprisonment of up to 3 years, or both (s 89; Interpretation Act, s 68).
• The surcharge is not charged on the State, State-controlled enterprises, hotels subject to hotel accommodation tax, or approved ecclesiastical, charitable or educational institutions of a public character. The Minister may change this list by Order (s 85(1A), inserted by the Finance Act 2026, s 23(g)).
• The Finance Act 2026 added a tax credit for landlords who pay the surcharge (Income Tax Act (Chapter 75:01), s 48O; Corporation Tax Act (Chapter 75:02), s 16M).