Real Estate Tax – Caribbean Netherlands

July 31, 2025

The Tax Authorities in the Caribbean Netherlands have just announced that immovable properties in the BES are currently being appraised for the Real Estate Tax assessments in 2026.

Real Estate Tax Appraisals
All immovable property in the BES is appraised every 5 years for Real Estate Tax purposes. These valuations are used to assess immovable properties for the Real Estate Tax for the following 5-year period (2026 – 2030).

According to the Tax Authorities, the appraisals are done by independent valuation specialists using visual observations, supplemented with data from sources such as the land registry, building information, and other public sources. The focus is on commercial property, hotels, schools and other institutions etc. Furthermore, the Tax Authorities informed that the valuation will only be used for Real Estate Tax purposes, and the valuation process is not used for tax audit or enforcement purposes.

Objection
Please note that in early 2026 the new valuation decisions will be sent to all property owners, and this will be the only year in which the owner can object against the valuation to be used for a period of 5 years. Upon receipt of the valuation decision, you will have 2 months to file an objection letter against an incorrect valuation after which the valuation is final and can be used for the remainder of the taxation period.

Contact
If you wish to receive further information or discuss your tax position, kindly contact one of our advisors.