Ministry of Finance

GOB and BEL Agrees on GST Refund

Belmopan - 27 July, 2006
The Ministry of Finance and the General Sales Tax Department wish to advise
the public that Belize Electricity Limited has agreed to cooperate with the
GST Department to facilitate the refund of pro-rated General Sales Tax paid
on electricity bills where the bill covered a part of the month of June
2006 or any earlier period.

Under the law, a supply of electricity to consumers who use up to $150.00
of electricity per month is exempt from GST. Where the monthly bill is over
$150.00, the GST will be applied only to the period commencing from 1st
July 2006 when the GST Act came into force.

The refund will be in the form of a credit given to the consumer by BEL in
the next or subsequent electricity bills.

This situation has arisen because the electricity bills are normally spread
over two months, for example, from 15th June to 15th July. The total amount
of the bill will therefore be pro-rated and the portion of GST paid
corresponding to the period before 1st July 2006 will be credited to the
consumer's account for subsequent bills.

The Ministry of Finance and the GST Department further advise the public
that as BEL has already issued the bills for the month of June-July, the
consumers should pay these bills as issued. The GST office is authorizing
BEL to refund the amount of excess GST in the form of a credit on their
future bills, as already explained.

The Ministry of Finance and the GST Department express their deep
appreciation for BEL's cooperation in working out the mechanics of the
refund and assure the public that, in the ultimate analysis, no consumer of
electricity will be paying GST for any period prior to 1st July 2006.

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questions on this from a friend....

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"Under the law, a supply of electricity to consumers who use up to $150.00
of electricity per month is exempt from GST. Where the monthly bill is over
$150.00, the GST will be applied"

A stupid question:

Will the GST then be applied on the bill "above" $150 or again everything
-- including the $150.00??

If the second -- it suddenly pays me to run generator a few hours every day.

By the way -- they neglect to state the percentage of this tax -- 10%??

Say 10% -- then 10% of $150 is $15.00

So -- whammo -- use even a bit over $150 -- and pay $15.00!!

Also -- does that $150 include the service charge -- etc -- or just
electrical consumption -- for that billing period of one month.

I know stupid questions -- but you know me --