Help for first-time buyers and tidying-up payroll tax anomalies will be gone over by MPs in the final House of Assembly session before November’s Throne Speech.

David Burt, the Premier, said The Payroll Tax Amendment Act clarified aspects of the tax code.

He added: “It does not include any tax bill increases.

“What the payroll tax amendment act is doing is to clarify that gratuities which are earned are not subject to payroll taxes.

“This has been something that has been raised by our union partners, raised by people working in the tourism industry, and that is to clarify those taxes.

“I want to clarify in law that summer students are not subject to payroll tax.”

Download PDF File

Order of Business Friday 30 September 2022.pdf

The Premier said the Stamp Duties Amendment Act would simplify procedures for first-time buyers.

“The $750,000 (stamp duty) exemption for first time homebuyers was already in law.

“What this does is to clarify certain provisions around that and also to make sure that there is no question in law as to whether or not those mortgages could be transferred and additional stamp duty has to be paid on the transfer of those mortgages.

“The amendments are not major, they are more technical amendments to clear up some misunderstandings.”

Vance Campbell, the tourism minister, is to give a statement on how the tourism industry fared in the third quarter of this year.

Wayne Furbert, the Cabinet Office Minister, will lay before the House the Office of Project Management and Procurement 2021 Annual Report.

And the Human Rights Commission Annual Report 2021 will be put before MPs by Tinee Furbert, Minister of Social Development and Seniors.

Walter Roban, home affairs minister, is making a statement on the annual report of the registry general 2021.

Other statements will include Diallo Rabain, the education minister, on the introduction of signature learning programmes in senior schools, and Kim Wilson, the health minister, talking about the “next steps to universal health coverage”.

Ms Wilson will give written responses to questions from the Opposition on the Government’s contract with ResQuest in relation to goods or services provided through the Covid pandemic, and the cost of engaging the firm.

Mr Furbert will give written answers to One Bermuda Alliance on when “any position any MP might hold within government or quangos, and the remuneration for that position”.

The House session will feature second readings of the Customs Tariff Amendment (No. 3) Act 2022; the Fuels Bill 2022; the West End Development Corporation Amendment Act 2022; the Parish Councils Amendment Act 2022; the Garages Licensing Act 2022; and the Public Health (COVID-19) Emergency Extension (No. 1) Order 2022.