News report: Chamber lauds early rollout plan for One Tax Bahamas portal
- BCCEC
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Published by Chester Robards, The Nassau Guardian, August 28, 2026
Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation (BCCEC) Chairman Don Williams has welcomed the government’s decision to introduce its One Tax Bahamas (OTB) platform in phases, adding that its early rollout should give businesses more time for training and preparation.
Williams told Guardian Business yesterday that BCCEC representatives spoke with government officials last week to gain a better understanding of the platform’s structure, rollout, and implications for the private sector.
“We spoke with them about understanding the setup, rollout and what to expect,” Williams said.
“We like that it will be rolled out in advance to allow businesses to obtain training and overviews.”
Registration for the new ten-digit Bahamas Identification Number (BIN) – which is required to make payments in the OTB portal – is scheduled to begin on September 1. The government has stressed that the date marks the beginning of early registration and not the full implementation of the One Tax Bahamas system.
The platform is intended to consolidate access to value-added tax (VAT), business license, real property tax and other government services. The BIN is expected to serve as an umbrella identification number for taxpayers conducting business with the Department of Inland Revenue and eventually, other government agencies.
Williams said the Chamber is awaiting an opportunity to test the new system when registration begins, and plans to assist businesses with navigating the process.
He added that questions remain about whether the completed platform will deliver the promised improvements for taxpayers. He also stressed that the Chamber does not support the introduction of additional taxes through the initiative.
DIR Director Shunda Strachan has repeatedly said One Tax Bahamas is an upgrade to the department’s existing tax portal and does not represent the introduction of a new tax.
Strachan said the present One Tax Administration System has lost some of its functionality and efficiency since it was introduced alongside VAT in 2015, as the number of taxpayers and services administered by the department has increased.
The government has said One Tax Bahamas will not increase tax rates or create a pathway to income tax. Services are expected to migrate to the new platform in phases, accompanied by stakeholder training and public education.
Opposition Leader Michael Pintard has nevertheless called for the rollout to be paused, citing concerns about data protection, cybersecurity, consultation and the timeframe given to businesses and taxpayers to prepare.
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