TAXES IN ARUBA
Aruba Tourists : There is a 6% government room tax on all accommodations.
Taxes
The main tax applied to individuals in Aruba is income tax, which is collected by employers under a 'PAYE'-style scheme along with social security contributions. Capital gains tax does not apply to individuals except on disposal of certain business assets; but there are inheritance and gift taxes, and some relatively minor property taxes. Import duties are significant, and apply to many goods and commodities.
Residence and Liability for Taxation
For taxation purposes, an individual is either resident or non-resident, and nationality is not a factor in determining tax status. Residence for tax purposes is determined by taking into account the location of an individual's permanent home, their habitual place of actual residence, and their centre of economic and social interest. Residents are taxed on their world-wide income under the following headings:
• Income from a business or profession
• Income from employment
• Income from property (real estate)
• Income from capital
• Certain periodic receipts.
Fringe benefits are mostly taxable, including housing allowances and reimbursement of taxes. Capital gains are not taxed unless the gain results from business activity, or unless it results from the sale of shares of a company of which the individual concerned, together with certain specified types of relative, owns or has owned 25% or more in the last 5 years.
Non-residents are taxed on certain specified types of income arising in Aruba, including the following:
• Income from a business or profession carried on within the islands personally or through a representative or agent (activity lasting less than three months may be exempted)
• Income from employment (if such lasts less than three months, there is the possibility of an exemption, but this is seldom granted)
• Income derived from a position as manager or director of an Aruban company
• Income derived from property (real estate) in Aruba, or from a mortgage on such property. Note however that there is no withholding tax in Aruba.
All individuals are entitled to various deductions, up to specified limits, including:
• business expenses, such as moving and travel expenses, entertainment expenses, and automobile expenses
• medical expenses
• life insurance and pension plan payments
• charitable contributions;
• interest
• social security contributions
• alimony
Income from dividends, royalties and interest is taxable whatever its source for residents; for non-residents only local-source income is taxable. Tax credits on foreign income are not accepted unless they are covered by a specific tax treaty. Foreign taxes actually paid as such are however deductible.
Self-employed individuals calculate their taxable income on the same basis as for corporate taxation generally. They are entitled to accelerated depreciation on the purchase of fixed assets of 33.33% per annum.
Social Security Taxes
Employee social insurance contributions are withheld at source by the employer. Social insurance payments are under three headings:
• The basic pension contribution is 9.2% of salary for the employer and 3.88% for the employee.
• Disablement Insurance costs the employer between 0.5% and 5%, depending on the industry;
• Sickness Insurance contributions are 8.3% for the employer and 2.1% for the employee.
• The total contribution can therefore be as high as 29% of salary.
Inheritance and Gift Taxes
Inheritance and gift taxes are only levied on Aruba residents. The rates depend on the relationship of the recipient to the donor and the value of the taxable estate after deductions and exemptions. A tax return must be filed within 3 months of the gift or date of death and the tax must be paid within one month of the assessment.
In general the following rates apply:
• Gift to a spouse or child: 2%-6%;
• Gift to a brother or sister: 4%-12%;
• Gift to a parent: 3%-9%;
• Gifts to other persons: 8%-24%
Real Estate Taxes
Owners of real estate have to pay annual rates amounting to 0.4% of the value of the property which value is determined in accordance with a prescribed valuation method.
The buyer of real estate pays 3% capital transfer tax on the value of real estate purchased. Value in this case is the higher of the price paid or the value according to the prescribed valuation method.
Import Duties
The standard tariff varies from 7.5% to 21% with primary food stuffs exempted and luxury goods paying a higher rate.
