Express ( Trinidad and Tobago )
01 November 2024 ( Page 10 )
First Citizens unveils guide for online property tax payments
FIRST Citizens has published a stepby- step guide to help its customers pay their property taxes online.
The guide has been shared by the Ministry of Finance.
On Wednesday morning, Finance Minister Colm Imbert announced that First Citizens would introduce an online payment option for property taxes, with other commercial banks expected to implement similar systems soon.
Starting at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, First Citizens customers gained access to the property tax payment option.
The bank informed its customers that property tax payments could be made through online banking or the mobile app.
First Citizens advised, 'Customers should have on hand their Property PIN Number and Media Number, as provided by the Ministry of Finance, Notice of Assessment Bill' to complete the payment.
The Property PIN is located in the top right-hand corner of the Notice of Assessment, while the Media Number can be found at the bottom of the notice.
'For every property a payee must be added,' First Citizens stated.
Delivering the feature address at the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange's Capital Market Conference 2024 held at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain, Imbert stated that in the 'near future,' everyone will be able to pay all their taxes online and by credit card.
'Due to public demand and consistent with our drive to provide digital options for all financial transactions, I undertook to introduce a facility for online payments for property tax by October 31, 2024,' Imbert said.
'I am pleased to report that First Citizens Bank will go live today (October 30) to provide an electronic banking facility to allow property owners to pay their property tax online in the same way they currently pay their utility bills. The other commercial banks will follow with their e-banking platforms shortly, and in the near future, payment of taxes online by credit card will be facilitated,' he said.
Speaking in the Parliament during the budget debate on September 30, Imbert said: 'Mindful of the last-minute nature of our society, where things are often left at the last minute possible, we extended the time
for property owners to pay their property tax by two months, from September 30, 2024, to November 29, 2024. I also wish to advise that we expect to implement an online payment solution for property tax on or before October 31, 2024, allowing online bank transfers and card payments.'