WILLEMSTAD – Tax and social security contributions in Curaçao rose sharply in the first quarter of 2025, with tax revenues up by 12% and premiums by 6.6% compared to the same period last year. This translated into more than 28 million guilders in additional revenue beyond budget projections, according to the Tax Office’s Management Report covering January through March.
The increase is attributed to Curaçao’s ongoing economic recovery, improved taxpayer compliance, and more effective collection efforts. The Tax Office also credits several optimizations in its Central Registration and Information System for Taxpayers (Crib), which streamlined the registration and classification of filers.
One major administrative reform involved revising turnover tax filing categories. Over 7,500 monthly or annual filers were transitioned to quarterly filing. Additionally, nearly 2,000 inactive business registrations were closed, reducing incorrect tax assessments and the number of appeals.
As a result, actual tax revenues climbed from approximately 402 million to nearly 451 million guilders. Total tax and premium receipts reached more than 3 billion guilders in March 2025 — an increase of over 65 million guilders compared to the previous year.
Recovery After Previous Decline
The recent gains follow a decline in collections observed since mid-2024, which the Tax Office attributes to the issuance of final corporate income tax assessments for 2023. The next round of final assessments for 2024 and the first 2025 property tax bills are scheduled for early June. Authorities expect the total outstanding tax balance to rise again by the end of that month.
Meanwhile, efforts are also underway to reduce outstanding debts. A targeted action plan has been launched to strengthen tax enforcement and collections.
Digital Improvements and Challenges
On the technology front, Curaçao’s Tax Office reports improvements in its online filing systems, particularly for refund requests. The launch of the new digital payment service Pagomatik now offers a convenient alternative to previous in-person cash payments at tax counters.
However, the agency continues to face challenges. Delays in processing returns have occurred due to IT issues, compounded by staffing shortages and disruptions following the recent fire in the World Trade Center building.
To address these problems, the Tax Office has initiated a service improvement plan. Since October 2024, a dedicated team has been working to clear backlogs in correspondence and improve accessibility by phone.
