Government announces temporary tax relief for school students

BASSETERRE (CMC):

The St Kitts-Nevis government has announced a three-month temporary tax relief measure on school supplies beginning from July this year.

“Education is the foundation of our nation’s future and we recognise the financial challenges many parents face when preparing their children for school. By removing these taxes on essential supplies, we are taking concrete steps to make education more accessible while providing meaningful relief to households across our federation,” Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dr Terrance Drew said.

The government said that during the three-month period, essential educational items will be exempt from import duty, Value Added Tax and Customs Service Charge , and that the tax concession applies to a wide range of school necessities including fabrics for uniforms, textbooks, stationery, calculators and other learning materials.

It said that commercial importers and individual parents will benefit from this initiative, ensuring widespread access to more affordable school supplies.

The government said that the tax relief initiative continues to demonstrate its dedication to supporting families and prioritising education.

“By reducing the financial burden of back-to-school expenses, the measure aims to ensure all students have access to the tools they need for academic success while stimulating local economic activity during this important seasonal period,” it added.