The government will launch an aggressive tax compliance and enforcement campaign in 2026 as part of a broader push to strengthen public finances and close revenue gaps, Prime Minister Gaston Browne announced Thursday during his presentation of the 2026 national budget.
Browne told Parliament that despite strong economic performance and sustained growth, Antigua and Barbuda remains the lowest in the OECS in tax revenue as a share of GDP — a position he said is no longer acceptable for a developing country seeking to fund expanding social programmes and infrastructure.
“This must change,” Browne said, outlining a series of new measures aimed at tightening revenue collection, reducing leakages and modernizing tax administration systems. He described the compliance push as a central pillar of the government’s fiscal agenda for 2026.
Among the reforms are the full digitisation of the Antigua and Barbuda Sales Tax (ABST) system, enhanced monitoring mechanisms and stricter enforcement protocols. Browne said customs operations will also undergo significant upgrades, including the deployment of new scanning technology to improve container inspection and reduce opportunities for under-invoicing and evasion.
To further curb revenue leakages, the government will introduce rotation strategies within customs and tax departments to reduce the risk of collusion, alongside regular spot checks targeting businesses and individuals suspected of non-compliance. “Those who get caught robbing the revenue will pay heavily,” Browne said.
The Inland Revenue Department will implement a new tax administration system designed to simplify compliance, improve efficiency and reduce human interference — a measure Browne argued will boost transparency and reduce opportunities for corruption.
The Prime Minister said these reforms are necessary to sustain the country’s fiscal position, especially as the government continues to record surpluses and reduce public debt. Revenue enhancement, he noted, will ensure adequate funding for key priorities including housing, education, healthcare and climate resilience.
With recurrent revenue projected at $1.49 billion in 2026, Browne said stronger tax performance will help bring Antigua and Barbuda closer to the ECCU average of 20 percent tax-to-GDP and the broader regional benchmark of 25 percent.
Budget debate continues next week.
