Vehicle owners must pay vehicle tax
Vehicle owners are currently being given the opportunity to pay the vehicle tax. They reportedly have until December 31 to pay the vehicle tax for 2019 at the bank or at one of the tax offices.
Several people who wanted to pay the vehicle tax complained that things had not been coordinated properly. They explained that they had to stand in line for nearly half an hour at one of the offices at Kerkplein before being told that the office would open at 10 a.m. They made it clear that officials must inform the public of the locations where one can pay the vehicle tax and what the business hours of those offices are. “I went to Kerkplein very early because I wanted to pay the vehicle tax. I stood at the back of the line but for almost half an hour before somebody finally announced that the office would open at 10 a.m. What kind of nonsense is that?” said a citizen who clearly seemed upset.
One of the employees at the office pointed out that the vehicle owners must have their vehicle registered before they are referred to a bank to deposit the money. After that they have to return to the office to pick up their receipt and sticker. Chief Inspector Lloyd Tolud, regional police chief of Paramaribo, explained that the police are making proposals. The police are considering letting people every six months or every year. Vehicle owners who do not pay the vehicle tax will be given a fine. It is still not clear how much these people would have to pay when they are given a fine. The police are still busy addressing the issue. Tolud pointed out that if a vehicle has been sold to a scrapyard and is officially listed as a write-off that vehicle will no longer be on the street. The owner does not have to pay vehicle tax but can expect a visit from the environment police if the vehicle is parked on the roadside. If the owner of the scrapyard fails to write off the vehicle and keeps it on the roadside, he or she will have to pay the vehicle tax. Vehicles that are excluded from vehicle tax are police cars, ambulances and fire trucks. The vehicle tax also does not apply to vehicles that transport people with a physical impairment, hearses, government vehicles, embassy vehicles, vehicles from international organizations. The vehicle tax applies to cars, buses, pickup trucks, trucks, tractors, mopeds, motorcycles and trailers.