Individual Income Tax Return

Who needs to submit this return?

  • Any individual who earned an income in Guyana or derived income from Guyana must report that income using this return. Where the employment or office is exercised in Guyana, tax is charged on the total amount of the income whether received in Guyana or not.
  • In the case of residents, income from outside of Guyana must also be reported. In the case of earned income which arises outside of Guyana to a person who is not ordinarily resident or not domiciled in Guyana, the tax is payable on the amount received in Guyana.
  • Every individual whose income is in excess of the applicable yearly threshold (see figures below) is required to file a return, unless the income is subject to withholding tax.
  • If there was any loss prior to the current Year of Income which resulted in the Individual being entitled to claim a deduction in the following Year of Income, a return must be submitted.

When and Where does this return need to be submitted?

  • The due date for submitting this return is 30th April of each year (or the next business day if the 30th is a holiday). Nevertheless, you are encouraged to file as early as possible.
  • This return must be submitted to the Commissioner General, Guyana Revenue Authority at one of GRA’s offices or sites or P.O. Box 10406.

How to fill this Return

  • The Return and all required supporting documents must be submitted. All spaces in the form should be completed. Where a line item is not applicable, you should write None, a , or 0 if the item is a numeric field.  Failure to do so could result in any enquiry and delay in the processing of your return.
  • The Declaration section must be filled out and Return signed.

Explanation of terms

Term Description
Year of Assessment Enter the year that follows the calendar year in which income was earned.
Amendment Tick this box if you are making changes to a Return that was already submitted to the GRA.
Line No. Term Description
1 Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Enter TIN provided on the TIN Certificate.
2 Registration Number Enter number on the certificate provided by the Commercial Registry.
3 Small Business Certificate Enter number on the certificate provided by the Small Business Bureau.
Line No. Term Description
Changed? If the details for the specific line item have changed for this period, fill in the correct information in the line item and tick this box.
  Term Description
19 For the year of income, indicate whether you were Self Employed, Employed or both.

 

If you were self-employed, indicate whether you were trading as yourself or operating under a business/trading name. In the case of the latter, indicate nature of business and small business certificate no. (if applicable).

 

If you were employed, indicate your employer’s TIN, name and address.

  Term Description
20 Resident/Non-Resident Tick the Resident box if you spend 183 days or more in Guyana in the year.

 

Tick the Non-Resident box if you spend less than 183 days of the year in Guyana.  Also, enter the Country of residence, Taxpayer Identification Number of that country, and address in that country.

21 Ordinarily resident/Not Ordinarily resident
22 Domiciled/Not Domiciled Tick the Domiciled box if you reside in Guyana with the intention of residing permanently in this country.  Tick this box if you were born and live in Guyana.

 

Tick the Not Domiciled box if you do not permanently reside in Guyana.

23 Country of which you are a national A national is generally regarded as an individual who holds the nationality or citizenship of a particular State
Line No. Term Description
24 Profits/Losses from the working of estates or the occupation or cultivation or rental of land of every description Enter value from total of column 8 of Schedule I.01 (a) less total of column 2 of Schedule I.01 (b).

 

In Schedule I.01 (b), list all expenses directly related to the working of estates or the occupation or cultivation or rental of land.

25 Profits/Losses from any trade, business, profession or vocation, partnership income Enter value of the total of column 2 of Schedule I.02 plus value of line 7 of Schedule I.03.

 

Do not include income from working of land(s) or income from salary(ies).

26  

Salary or Wages, Fees, etc. from or through the Public Treasury

Applicable to Members of Parliament, Government Employees and any other employees paid from or through the Public Treasury.

 

Include payments for overtime, value of residence, quarters, board and lodging or any other allowances granted in respect of employment, whether in money or otherwise but do not include travelling, subsistence, entertainment allowance, medical discharge benefits, severance pay and station allowance.

27  

Salary or Wages, Fees, etc. from sources other than the Public Treasury

Applicable to all employees not falling under line 26.

 

Include Commission, Bonus, Overtime, Value of Residence, Board and Lodging or any other allowance whether in money or otherwise granted in respect of employment. Exclude travelling, subsistence, entertainment allowance, medical discharge benefits, severance pay and station allowance (only if they were utilised for the respective purposes for which they were granted).

 

If any expenses were wholly and exclusively incurred in earning the income, full details must be given.

 

Salaries, fees, etc., receivable by Directors, Trustees, etc., are to be declared here.

28 Dividends, Interest or Discount from sources within Guyana Enter the sum of the total of column 4 of Schedule I.04, totals of columns 6 & 7 of Schedule I.05, and any Discounts arising from any sources within Guyana.
29 Dividends, Interest or Discount arising or accruing from any sources out of Guyana Enter the sum of the total of column 5 of Schedule I.04, totals of columns 8 & 9 of Schedule I.05, and any Discounts arising from any sources out of Guyana.
30 All Charges or annuities arising in Guyana or elsewhere Enter the value of the total of column 4 of Schedule I.06.
31 All Rents, royalties, premiums and other profits arising from property in Guyana or elsewhere Enter the total of net rental income (use value of the total of column 7 of Schedule I.07 (a) less the value of the total of column 2 of Schedule I.07 (b)), royalties, premiums and other profits.

 

Include income from the letting of houses (furnished or unfurnished). Lands or other properties, except such rents as are included in receipts of the working of an Estate or Cultivation of land, or the sub-letting of trade premises which may be included under lines 24.

32 Net Capital Gains deemed income Enter value of the total of column 7 of Schedule I.08.

 

Indicate only Capital Gains which resulted from the acquisition and disposal of assets within a twelve (12) month period and are deemed to be income under the Capital Gains Tax Act (but subject to the appropriate rates under the Income Tax Act) unless the contrary is established to the satisfaction of the Commissioner General.

 

Do not include any net gains below $500,000.

33 Total Income (excluding Losses) Sum all the line items from lines 24 to 32 in which income was declared (do not add losses).
34 Wear & Tear Allowance Enter value from total of column 10 of Schedule J.01.
35 Trade Losses able to be claimed Fill appropriate schedules based on losses for particular heads of income, A-F.  Enter the total value of loss relief/granted (column 5) for the current year from Schedule J.02 (a) to J.02 (f).

 

The amount of loss allowed to be set off in computing the chargeable income shall not reduce the tax payable to less than one half of the amount which would have been payable had the set off not been allowed.

36 Land Development Expenditure Allowance Enter value of amount claimed (column 4) for the current year from Schedule J.03.

 

The amount claimed must be limited to 10% of actual expenditure incurred for the purpose of development and improvement of agricultural land for this period.

37 Total Allowances Enter the sum of the values for lines 34 to 36.
38 Balance of Income Enter value of line 33 minus line 37.
39 Personal Allowance/Tax Threshold Refer to table below for respective year’s threshold.
40 Employee NIS Contribution From Year of Income 2016 onward enter value stated on your form 7B provided by your employer.
41 Gross Interest Paid on Mortgage This is applicable from Year of Income 2013 onward.

 

Note that the Mortgage Interest Deduction will be restricted to your Chargeable Income. This value should be derived from the Balance of Income (Line 38) less the deductions: Personal Allowance (Line 39) and Employee NIS Contribution (Line 40).

42 Total Deductions Enter the sum of the values for lines 39 to 42.
43 Chargeable Income If the Gross Interest Paid on Mortgage (Line 41) is greater than the Balance of Income (Line 38) less the sum of Personal Allowance (Line 39) and Employee NIS Contribution (Line 40), then insert a zero (0) value for your Chargeable Income.

 

Otherwise, enter the value of Balance of Income (line 38) minus Total Deductions (line 42).

44 Tax on Chargeable Income Use the appropriate tax rate.
45 PAYE Deducted Enter the total value of PAYE Deducted from all Forms 7A or 7B received from employers.
46 Amount Paid in Advance Enter the total of all Advanced Tax payments made for this period.
47 Set-Off (Tax deducted at source) Enter value from total of column 2 of Schedule L.01.

 

Tax deducted from dividends as set-off

A company is deemed to have deducted Income Tax from dividends. The shareholder must include the gross amount on his/her return and the amount of tax so deemed to have been deducted will be set off against the Income Tax payable by him/her. No set-off, however, will be allowed unless the dividend warrants are produced.

 

Tax deducted at Source as set-off

Income Tax deducted and remitted from Gold & Diamond Miners (2%) will be set off against the Income Tax payable. No set-off will be allowed unless the certificate of deduction is produced in the Return filed.

48 Relief (other tax credits) Enter total value of any unilateral relief granted under Section 90 of the Income Tax Act Ch 81:01.
49 Double Tax Agreement Relief Enter value from the total of column 8 of Schedule L.02.
50 Small Business Credit See Section 36 (B) of the Income Tax Act Ch 81:01.   Provide separate Profit & Loss statements for manufacturing and construction activities.
51 Other Credits Enter total value of all other credits not reported elsewhere in the Return.
52 Total Tax Credits Enter sum from lines 45 to 51.
53 Tax Due If line 44 is greater than line 52, enter difference.
54 Tax Refundable If line 52 is greater than line 44, enter difference.

If you are self-employed and incur the following expenses, you are required to complete the respective schedules:

  Expense Schedule to be Filled
1 Bad & Doubtful Debts 01
2 Gross Payments to Residents & Non-Residents (Section 39 & 40 of Income Tax Act) 02 (a)
3 Gross Payments to Non-Residents (Section 39 & 40 of Income Tax Act) 02 (b)
4 Gross Payments to Sub-Contractors 02 (c)
5 Rates & Taxes 03
6 Contributions to Approved Funds, Schemes or Plans 04

 

Payment Of Taxes

Every person in receipt of income other than employment income is required to pay to the Commissioner General, Guyana Revenue Authority on or before 1st April, 1st July, 1st October and 31st December, in each year of income an amount equal to quarter of the tax as calculated by him on his chargeable income based on his preceding year’s return and the balance, if any, not later than 30th April of the following year.

Year of Income (YI) Year of Assessment (YA)  (Personal Allowance) Amount of Deduction NIS Medical & Life Insurance Premium Threshold Rates on Chargeable Income
2007 2008 $336,000 33 1/3%
2008-2010 2009-2011 $420,000 33 1/3%
2011 2012 $480,000 33 1/3%
2012 2013 $600,000 33 1/3%
2014 2015 $600,000 30%
2015 2016 $600,000 5.6%

Jan. – Sept.-$170,812

Oct-Dec. -$200,000

 

30%
2016 2017 $660,000 5.6%

(maximum of $220,000)

30%
2017 2018 $720,000

On Income under ($2,160,000)

1/3

On Income above

($2,160,000)

5.6%

(maximum of $220,000)

 

 

 

28% on the First $1,440,000 of Chargeable Income

40% on the Balance remaining of Chargeable Income

2018 2019 $720,000

On Income under ($2,160,000)

 

1/3

On Income above

($2,160,000)

5.6% (maximum of $240,000)  

28% on the First $1,440,000 of Chargeable Income

40% on the Balance remaining of Chargeable Income

2019 2020 $780,000

On Income under

($780,000*3 =$2,340,000)

 

1/3

On Income above

($2,340,000)

5.6% (maximum

Jan $240,000

Feb-Dec $256,800)

 

 

28% on the First $1,560,000 of Chargeable Income

40% on the Balance remaining of Chargeable Income

2020 2021 $780,000

On Income under

 ($780,000*3 =$2,340,000)

 

1/3

On Income above

($2,340,000)

5.6% (maximum of $280,000)  

28% on the First $1,560,000 of Chargeable Income

40% on the Balance remaining of Chargeable Income

2021 2022 $780,000

On Income under

 ($780,000*3 =$2,340,000)

 

1/3

On Income above

($2,340,000)

5.6% (maximum of $280,000) 28% on the First $1,560,000 of Chargeable Income

40% on the Balance remaining of Chargeable Income

2022 2023 On Income under

$900,000

($900,000*3 =$2,700,000)

 

1/3

On Income above

($2,700,000)

5.6% (maximum of $280,000) Premium paid/10% of Gross Salary/$360,000 28% on the First $1,800,000 of Chargeable Income

40% on the Balance remaining of Chargeable Income

2023 2024 $1,020,000

On Income under

($1,020,000*3 =$3,060,000)

 

1/3

On Income above

($3,060,000)

5.6% (maximum of $280,000) Premium paid/10% of Gross Salary/$360,000 28% on the First $2,040,000 of Chargeable Income
40% on the Balance remaining of Chargeable Income
1 Every person whose income is not less than the threshold for the respective Year of Income who refuses, fails or neglect to deliver a RETURN of his income to the Commissioner General on or before the prescribed day in every year is liable to a penalty not exceeding $100,000.
2 Where a person has not delivered a Return within the prescribed time under section 60 [1] of the Income Tax Act, the Commissioner General may add to an assessment made upon such a person a sum equal to ten (10) per cent of the amount of the tax assessed. For Year of Assessment 2018 and onwards, where a loss or deficit Return was submitted after the prescribed time, the Commissioner General may charge a flat fee of $50,000 on each loss/deficit return submitted.
3 Where a person refuses, fails or neglects to make a return of chargeable Income for the year immediately preceding the Year of Assessment within the time specified in a notice issued by the Commissioner General to such person under Sec.60 [4] of the income Tax Act the Commissioner General shall add to the assessment a sum equal to ten (10) per cent of the amount of tax assessed.
4 Any person who without reasonable excuse makes an incorrect return by omitting or understating any Income of which he is required by the Act to make a return, whether on his own behalf or on behalf of another, or makes an incorrect statement in connection with a claim for deduction in estimating taxable income, or gives any incorrect information in relation to any matter or thing affecting his own liability or tax or the liability of any other person, is liable to a fine not exceeding $100,000 and double the amount of the tax which has been or would have been undercharged in consequence thereof.
5 Any person who knowingly makes false statement or representation in any Income Tax Return or who keeps or prepares false accounts of any profits, property or gifts chargeable to Income Tax, or aids or abets any persons in such offences, is liable to a fine not exceeding $100,000 and treble the amount of Tax which has been undercharged in consequence of such false accounts, particulars, returns, statements, information of representation or could be so undercharged if the account, particulars, return, statement, information or representation has been accepted as correct and to imprisonment for six months.
6 Late payment of tax will attract late payment penalties and interest as outline in table below. The penalties charged shall be deemed to be part of the tax assessed and shall be recoverable accordingly.
Year Of Income Late Payment Penalty Interest
Prior to 2017 2% for first 3 months,

3% for the next 3 months,

4% for the next 6 months, and

5% for every month thereafter.

Check GRA website
2018 to Present 24% per annum 18% per annum
All Individuals (where applicable)          i.            Mortgage Interest Relief documents

ii.            Dividend warrants (Income from Dividends and other Distributions)

iii.            Certificate of Assessment (Double Tax Agreement Relief)

Employed Individuals Forms 7A or 7B from all employers
Self Employed Individuals          i.            Balance Sheet

ii.            Statement of Profit/Loss

iii.            Certificate of Deduction (Set-Off – Gold & Diamond Miners)

iv.            Statement of Profit/Loss for manufacturing/construction activities (applicable to registered small businesses)