Caribbean Tax Update No. 2026/07

12 October 2026

The Caribbean Tax Update is a free weekly overview of tax case law, legislation and administrative news from Sint Maarten, Curaçao, Aruba, the Caribbean Netherlands and Suriname. Each item carries a short summary and a link to the source document.

This week the Court of First Instance on Bonaire decided three related criminal cases arising from the tax fraud of a Bonaire construction company, convicting its bookkeeper and the director of an accountancy firm and acquitting a third suspect. In The Hague the government proposed to extend the BES petrol excise reduction by a year, and the EU Council removed Panama and Viet Nam from its list of non-cooperative jurisdictions. In Sint Maarten the Council of Advice is considering an initiative ordinance to turn the motor vehicle tax-funded Road Fund into an independent body, and in Suriname the National Assembly began its public debate on the new Collection Act.

Case law | Caribbean Netherlands

Bonaire | Criminal tax law, ABB and wage tax

Bookkeeper of a construction company sentenced to twelve months, six suspended, for tax fraud, habitual money laundering and forgery

The defendant kept the books of a Bonaire construction company. Together with the company she failed to file, or knowingly understated, its ABB and wage tax returns over many periods between 2018 and January 2023. The Court also found that she had routed money originating from this tax fraud through several bank accounts to conceal its origin, and that she had forged documents, including an authorisation, invoices and job vacancy registrations. She was acquitted of fraud against the company and of a separate charge of forging objection forms and annual accounts bearing a false Belastingdienst receipt stamp. Because the reasonable time for trial had been exceeded through no fault of the defendant, the Court reduced the sentence it considered appropriate to twelve months' imprisonment, six of them suspended. The prosecutor's request for a ban on working as a bookkeeper was rejected, because the BES Criminal Code provides no legal basis for a professional ban for forgery or money laundering.

Read the full decision (ECLI:NL:OGEABES:2026:232)

Bonaire | Criminal tax law, money laundering by a tax adviser

Director of an accountancy firm convicted of culpable money laundering for passing on tax payments of a client that were not remitted to the Belastingdienst

Between July 2020 and January 2023 the construction company transferred considerable amounts to the bank account of an accountancy and tax firm, mostly described as payments of ABB and wage tax; about USD 191,000 of this was not paid to the tax authorities but moved on to other accounts or withdrawn in cash on the bookkeeper's instructions. The Court acquitted the firm's director of intentional laundering, as it could not be established when he learned of the underreporting. Given his professional experience, his own finding that far too little tax had been declared and the repeated diversion of funds labelled as tax payments, the firm should reasonably have suspected that the money derived from crime, and the director had de facto led that culpable laundering. He was also convicted of forging three documents concerning the construction of a house. The sentence is nine months' imprisonment, four suspended. The Court held that there is no legal basis for a professional ban for culpable money laundering.

Read the full decision (ECLI:NL:OGEABES:2026:230)

Bonaire | Criminal tax law, money laundering

Former partner of the bookkeeper acquitted of laundering USD 110,000 received on his account

Between July 2020 and April 2022 about USD 110,700 was transferred from the accountancy firm's account to an account in the defendant's name and partly passed on, withdrawn or spent. The Court found that his then partner, the bookkeeper, managed his finances and gave the instructions for these payments, as supported by WhatsApp messages between her and the firm's director. The fact that the account was in his name, that he withdrew cash at her request and that part of the money was used privately was insufficient to establish knowledge or a reasonable suspicion of criminal origin. He was acquitted of both intentional and culpable money laundering.

Read the full decision (ECLI:NL:OGEABES:2026:231)

Sint Maarten

Sint Maarten | Motor vehicle tax, Road Fund

Council of Advice asked to advise on an initiative ordinance turning the Road Fund into an independent administrative body

On 18 September 2026 the Council of Advice of Sint Maarten registered a request for advice (SM-02-26 ILV) on an initiative national ordinance amending the national ordinance implementing article 24a of the Motor Vehicle Tax Ordinance. The proposal would establish the Road Fund (Wegenfonds), which is financed from motor vehicle tax, as an independent administrative body and strengthen its financing. The Council's advice is pending.

Sint Maarten | Public finances, Cft

Minister Plenipotentiary meets Cft representatives on institutional capacity and long-term resilience

Minister Plenipotentiary Gracita Arrindell received representatives of the Board of Financial Supervision (Cft), including the Cft board member for the BES islands, for a courtesy visit in The Hague. Public finances, institutional strengthening and socio-economic development were discussed in general terms. The meeting focused on attracting Sint Maarten professionals abroad, particularly in finance and law, for project-based or temporary assignments. No budget figures or decisions were announced.

Curaçao

Curaçao | Enforcement, Inspectie der Belastingen

Tax inspectorate takes part in multidisciplinary checks of garages and scrapyards

On 8 October 2026 the Actiecentrum Ondermijning Curaçao carried out a joint check of five garages and scrapyards, with the Inspectie der Belastingen taking part alongside the police, the Public Prosecutor's Office, Aqualectra, the Ministry of Social Development, Labour and Welfare and other services. Findings included businesses without registration at the Chamber of Commerce, without an establishment permit or without a tax registration (crib) number, and employees who had not been registered. Water and electricity theft was found and disconnected. One business was closed and several warnings were issued.

Aruba

Aruba | State participations, Free Zone Aruba

Council of Advice asked to advise on converting a receivable on Free Zone Aruba N.V. into equity

The Council of Advice of Aruba has received a request for advice on a draft national ordinance authorising the Minister of Finance to expand the Country's shareholding in Free Zone Aruba N.V., the state-owned company that manages Aruba's free zones. No new funds are contributed: a current-account receivable of the Country on the company would be converted into a participation booked in its share premium reserve. The Council's advice is published once the draft is submitted to Parliament.

Caribbean Netherlands

Caribbean Netherlands | Excise duty, petrol

Government proposes to phase out the BES petrol excise reduction gradually and let it end on 1 January 2029 instead of 2028

In the second memorandum of amendment to the Belastingplan 2027, dated 9 October 2026, the government extends the temporary reduction of the excise on petrol in the Caribbean Netherlands, which was due to apply from 1 January 2027 and lapse on 1 January 2028. The reduction is now partly maintained in 2028 and ends on 1 January 2029. For Bonaire the rate per litre becomes USD 0.2636 in 2027 and USD 0.2876 in 2028, returning to USD 0.3186 in 2029; for Sint Eustatius and Saba the rates are USD 0.2008, USD 0.2191 and USD 0.2427. The budgetary cost is estimated at about EUR 1 million, and the Belastingdienst Caribisch Nederland expects little impact on its operations.

Caribbean Netherlands | Belastingplan 2027, mileage allowance and diesel

Government explains why diesel is not subject to excise on the BES islands and confirms it will pay the higher mileage allowance as employer

In its memorandum in reply to the committee report on the Belastingplan 2027, also of 9 October 2026, the government confirms that the untaxed travel allowance in the Caribbean Netherlands rises from USD 0.20 to USD 0.22 per kilometre. Whether employees benefit depends on their employers, but the central government, as the largest employer on the islands, will pay the higher amount. Diesel is not subject to excise because it is mainly used in generators, vessels and machinery, and taxing it would raise costs for businesses. On Bonaire pump prices are set by law every two weeks, so the reduction in petrol excise is passed on to consumers. The legislative consultation on the package took place on 12 October 2026.

Saba | Tax administration, office hours

Tax office on Saba closed on Monday 12 October 2026

The Belastingdienst Caribisch Nederland office on Saba was closed on Monday 12 October 2026, as announced on 5 October through the Facebook page of the Rijksdienst Caribisch Nederland. No reason was given; the day is not a public holiday on Saba.

Bonaire | Customs, maritime supervision

Customs among the services carrying out joint maritime checks during the 59th Bonaire Regatta

During the 59th Regatta Bonaire, which started on 11 October 2026, the partners in the Multidisciplinary Maritime Hub Bonaire carry out joint supervision in the waters between Curaçao and Bonaire, around Bonaire and in the bay of Kralendijk. Customs Caribbean Netherlands supervises cross-border movements of goods, checks compliance with import and export procedures and looks for prohibited goods. The Royal Marechaussee, the Coast Guard, the police and the Public Entity Bonaire check entry requirements, ship documents, passenger numbers and moorings.

Suriname

Suriname | Tax collection, legislation

National Assembly starts its public debate on the new Collection Act, into which the act on collection costs has been merged

The committee of rapporteurs signed its final report on the draft Invorderingswet and the Kostenwet Invordering Belastingen on 6 October 2026, after meetings in July, August, September and on 5 October, including with the director of the Belastingdienst. By memorandum of amendment of 2 October 2026 the President merged the act on collection costs into the Collection Act. Points discussed included avoiding duplication with the Algemene Wet Belastingen, the absence of prior court approval for ordinary collection, the role of the courts in coercive measures and attachment, and the possible lapse or reshaping of existing powers of the tax collector. The public debate started on 8 October and continued on 9 October 2026; the committee work on the Algemene Wet Belastingen also continued that week.

Suriname | Import duty, business assets

Partial import duty exemption for qualifying business assets extended for twelve months

A decision of the Minister of Finance and Planning of 26 June 2026 (S.B. 2026 no. 56) extends by twelve months the arrangement of June 2025, which had expired on 27 June 2026. Depreciable business assets qualify for a 50 percent exemption from import duty, and 75 percent for manufacturing companies; statistics duty is exempt up to SRD 1,000. The asset must have a CIF value of at least USD 7,500, or USD 500,000 for an integrated investment (USD 250,000 in agriculture, livestock and fishing), casinos are excluded, the application must be filed at least one month before arrival of the goods and the asset may not be disposed of within three years. The decision was made available online in early October 2026.

Minister of Finance aims to reduce the 2027 deficit through spending control and more efficient collection by the tax and customs authorities

The draft 2027 budget estimates revenue at SRD 70.1 billion and expenditure at SRD 80.9 billion, a deficit of about SRD 10.8 billion or 4 percent of GDP. Minister of Finance and Planning Adelien Wijnerman said on 7 October 2026 that the deficit is to be contained without increasing public debt, mainly by controlling expenditure and raising additional revenue. The Belastingdienst and Customs are examining how collection and enforcement can be made more efficient, and the minister noted that a considerable amount of tax remains to be collected. Borrowing is to be used for productive investment and new payment arrears are to be avoided.

Suriname | Judiciary, tax adjudication

Court of Justice opens its judicial year with 45 judges and plans multi-judge first-instance hearings, including in tax cases

Court President I. Rasoelbaks opened the 2026-2027 judicial year of the Hof van Justitie on 2 October 2026, following the recent swearing-in of 15 judges. With 45 judges in total the court expects to deliver more timely justice and, if the legislature approves its proposal, to hear complex civil and criminal cases and tax cases in first instance with three judges. A new four-year training programme for judges starts in 2027, and a new set of civil procedure rules has been adopted. Since 5 October court hearings are also held in Albina.

Kingdom and international

EU | Non-cooperative jurisdictions

EU Council removes Panama and Viet Nam from its tax blacklist; Anguilla, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the US Virgin Islands remain listed

On 9 October 2026 the Council of the EU moved Panama and Viet Nam from Annex I to Annex II, pending new Global Forum reviews on exchange of information on request; Panama had also reformed its exemption for foreign-source income. Belize was removed from Annex II after a positive Global Forum rating. The list now contains eight jurisdictions: American Samoa, Anguilla, Guam, Palau, the Russian Federation, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the US Virgin Islands and Vanuatu. The next revision is scheduled for February 2027.

Kingdom | Tax treaties in preparation

Kingdom list of treaties in preparation includes tax treaties for Curaçao and information exchange agreements for Aruba and Sint Maarten

By letter of 6 October 2026 the Minister of Foreign Affairs sent Parliament the list of 252 treaties under negotiation on 1 October 2026. For Curaçao it includes double tax treaties with Barbados, Jamaica, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Qatar, the Seychelles and the United Arab Emirates, and a tax information exchange agreement with Germany. Aruba is negotiating information exchange agreements with India and Portugal, and Sint Maarten with Belize, Costa Rica, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Ukraine. The list also contains customs mutual assistance agreements for the Caribbean countries and the BES islands and Aruba's associate membership of CARICOM.

International | Caribbean tax administrations

OECD and CARICOM report on regional cooperation as the Caribbean tax-to-GDP ratio edges down to 22.3 percent

In a blog published on 8 October 2026 the OECD and CARICOM note that the average tax-to-GDP ratio of the Caribbean sub-region fell by 0.2 percentage points to 22.3 percent in 2024, still above the Latin America and Caribbean average. The Caribbean Tax Outreach initiative, launched in 2025 under CARICOM and COTA, drew more than 950 participants from 22 jurisdictions in 2026 to sessions on e-invoicing, tax morale, VAT on digital trade, transfer pricing and tax data. The authors point to growing demand for Tax Inspectors Without Borders support.

Global Forum publishes practical guidance on confidentiality and information security and on the secure use of AI by tax authorities

At its ISM Days on 5 and 6 October 2026 the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes launched practical guidance for tax authorities on confidentiality, information security management and cyber security, updating its 2020 toolkit. The guidance helps authorities assess and strengthen the security of taxpayer information exchanged automatically. Separate guidance on the secure use of artificial intelligence in tax authorities, with a policy template, is available to tax authorities on request.

The Caribbean Tax Update is a free weekly publication of Aalbers Private Tax Advisory. It is based on publicly available sources, in particular decisions published on rechtspraak.nl and official publications of the governments of Sint Maarten, Curaçao, Aruba, the Caribbean Netherlands and Suriname. Summaries are provided for general information only and do not constitute tax advice. No liability is accepted for any reliance on this publication.

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