More first world money grabbing tax structures from a Government that is starting to believe we all toil for their benefit.
If it didn't come with such onerous and arbitrary implementation it wouldn't be so bad,
but the fact is the special few will never pay it.

And to think, the Bahamas used to advertise as a country with very low taxation to attract foreign investors. We must now be very high on the global 'most taxed countries' list. They are taxing locals, foreign investors and visitors into oblivion. Talk about killing the goose.......

Government coming into power PLEASE TAKE NOTE!

Comrades! Do the boat dockers behind those waterfront gated communities think they should continue "staying afloat" and pay no fees into public treasury

Tal, anyone who lives behind those gates are already paying the bulk of what goes into the Treasury.

I pay almost as much in real property tax each year (and yes, sadly, I do pay it), but just shy of what a minimum wage employees take home pay would be each year...It's not so much the 'fee' the fee is minimal. Even if you have a 100 foot dock, which is BIG dock for a private residence, that is only $200 a year, it's minor, but it comes down to the interpretation of the law and legal precedents that have been set and in place for years. Now they think they can re-interpret the way the law reads to suit their needs. It will need to be decided in the courts, AGAIN, since this has been decided many times in the past, but they will ignore that fact.

if you dirve a car, i'll tax the street
if you take a walk i will tax your feet.

Actually the Bahamian people are subsidizing foreign gated communities because

1. VAT is a regressive tax hurting the poor black people who buy more per capita

2. No income tax so all the stock market capital gains of foreigners are not taxed. In their developed home countries they are taxed at a rate of 20 to 30%

3. BEC, Water and Sewerage, Bahamas Air and everything else is utilized more per capita by the foreigners with their over-sized and homes, yachts and private jets than Bahamians. All of these government institutions are run at massive losses in Bahamian dollars and the government debt is owed by the Bahamian people. While the foreigner keep their money safely in US dollars out of the country.

I could go on and on but whats the use. Our dumb politicians have no idea how to fairly spread the cost of their incompetent government between foreigners and Bahamians.

Lets do some maths, shall we:
1. Average Bahamian Income is $21,000. VAT on this is: 21k x 7% = B$1,470 on average per person per year. A "foreigner" will spend 10 times that, no problem. His VAT contribution is thus $14,700.
2. All the "stock market gains" you mention are taxed where they are made. You don't think they are made here, do you? Therefore, simply does not apply. Income tax: the overwhelming majority of "foreigners" do not have the right to work. Therefore what income tax you gonna charge them, brainbox?
3. If it wasn't for the "foreigners" paying their bills on time, BEC, Water, BahamasAir, etc. would be long bankrupt, as Bahamians are notoriously tardy in paying their bills. These institutions are run at massive losses because they are so inefficient, employing 100 people to do the job of 5 in the "first world". Look at average kwh electricity cost in Miami: 7 cents, and they make a profit. Here it is 35 cents and we are still losing money. Enough said.
On top of all that you "forget" that the "foreigners" employ tens of thousands of Bahamians, who would just join the unemployment queue if they were not here. They bring in $100s of millions every year to support their lifestyles. Without that money the B$ would long ago have devalued to 30c US. As it still soon will. But at least we got 20 years of grace.
I am just amazed that they are willing to put up with all the shit we come up with and they don't pack up and leave. Would be no more than we deserve.

Countless wealthy foreigners have either acted on their exit plans or are in the process of doing so simply because of the "targeting" now taking place. These people just do not like being 'played' as fools.

Hi Old Fort,
You got to choose the math you wanted.
However, let's just ask a simple question.
Inequality is growing fast, in almost every country in the world.
Has this been fostered by the fact that the rich have been so much more productive, earning this money by the sweat of their brow?
Or, could it be that the tax structures, pushed by the tax accountants and lawyers have figured out how to shift the entire tax burden of running the world onto the backs of the rest of the 99.9% of the population?
After many years of watching the rich bitch about their burdens and their benefits to the rest of us, they statistically are getting richer. Mostly the economic gains go to the FIRE sector: finance, insurance and real estate.
What do they produce? They actually suck money out of the real economy. I really get sick of these same tired arguments about how much this rich pay in taxes so the rest of us should shut up.
The Bahamas is in a race to the bottom. That they don't have the right to work here doesn't mean they shouldn't pay the taxes on income they claim to make at the place they call their residence.
I have watched first hand how many of the rich do it.
It is a game to them.
As usual, the poorest pay the hardest.
After that, we still listen to why the rich should be treated with kid gloves so that they don't leave our wonderful island.
Save your poppycock for children who don't think.
The entire world is arranged so that the rich benefit disproportionately from all of OUR hard work.
Ever heard of the French Revolution?
Is it that time again?

Hi Norman, you certainly make valid points. However, think about this one: if the tax rate in the Bahamas was the same as in the USA, would a single foreigner live here or would they all move to the Florida Keys (just an example)? What are the comparative advantages of the Bahamas? Good governance? Rule of Law? Low crime? Cheap prices? Cheap real estate? A good business climate? On any comparison metric you care to mention, we are so far behind the USA that it is not even funny. It is just tragic how bad we are. So, now equalize the tax structure and these islands will be quasi-deserts, with no jobs and no hope. You will have your "equality". All will have the same standard of living: the one "enjoyed" by our great grandfathers.

There areas many Bahamians living behind gates in Nassau and Freeport as there are foreigners.
Also most of those houses are worth more than 250,000 so they pay real property tax were the poor don't.
They pay hefty Customs Duty on their cars (no regression there).
The foreigner employ Bahamian Accountants and lawyers, lots of VAT 7.5% on $10,000 worth of professional services ($750 +++).
The rich foreigners pay their real property taxes. I am aware of bills up to $50,000 for many big properties. Plus all the NIB they pay for the hundreds of maids, gardners. Not to mention all the service contracts.

Also, they pay capital gains on their investments because they are paid at the source.

I'm a Bahamian living behind one of those gated communities with one of those controversial docks...so explain that one away...

Funny thing is they are leaving, and in greater numbers. Many Bahamians will applaud this, but we will all pay the price for it.
No tourists, no U.S. dollars to prop up our Bahamian dollar. Few foreign investors, fewer decent jobs.
Wait 'til the Government proclaims Bahamians cannot hold U.S. dollars. It happened in Jamaica. Won't happen here? Ok, stand by.
Wait 'til you cannot find or buy US $ for that trip to Walmart, even from the bank.
Government debt payments will take precedent.
All these new taxes are the only option left for a country left with no foreigners to tax and pillage. The Government is now willing, and able to feed on us.

Thats the takeover of all these gated waterway properties. 14 years areears.

It costs to dock your boat on your own dock and canal side?

Technically yes...if you build your dock on crown land/seafloor it's taxable...it all comes down to the interpretation of crown land vs private property. Canals that were dug through solid ground that is private property remain private property. Developments that were formed around existing waterways or marshlands that were once crown land in that sense, those are taxable.

**....................... What Are The Benefits To Dock Owners For This Tax? .........................**

A "TAX" is initiated to compensate government for some services rendered to those being taxed.

Exactly WHAT has government to do with or have done to assist in the development, ongoing maintenance or improvements to private docks that justifies them taxing us???????

This had to have come from a "genius" the likes of Alfred Gray, as no sensible individual could possibly have contrived such stupidity.

These buffoons will "TAX" the use of toilet seats next!!