Govt To Implement VAT On Fee-Based Financial Services

The Government would in 2015 implement the remaining VAT measures for fee-based financial services and commercial real estate with a change in the VAT on real estate to a flat five percent. In addition, the government would impose Special Petroleum Tax of 17.5 percent as part of a rationalization of VAT regime and change in the petroleum pricing structure. The Minister said the policy would come with a mitigation account to manage extremely low and high prices that result in sporadic price increases or decreases under the automatic adjustment formula. Also, there would be a reversal of the excise tax on petroleum from ad valorem to specific while the National Fiscal Stabilization Levy of five per cent and special import levy of one to two per cent would be extended to 2017. The Minister said there would be an increase in the withholding tax on Directors' remuneration from 10 per cent to 20 per cent. �Mr. Speaker, we will continue to implement the on-going expenditure measures that we have been vigorously pursuing under our Home-Grown Policy,�Mr Terkper said.