Business owners in Alderney said the higher costs and extra paperwork connected to introducing a Bailiwick-wide sales tax could compel them to close.
They were commenting after it emerged that as part of the review into tax, pensions and benefits, a five per cent goods and services tax from 2019 was being proposed.
The paper tabled a proposal that the implications of "introducing a broad based consumption tax" be investigated and that the Treasury put the results before the States by June 2019.
Alderney business owners said imposing such a tax would be unfair to Alderney.
Liz Hope, owner of Shirley's, said: "I think in Alderney we would find that a lot of businesses might have to close. We are already struggling with TRP. We just don't have the footfall for it. I personally think if they brought that in I would re-consider whether it was worth staying open. It wouldn't be just the extra cost but all the paperwork." Jo Boughton-Leigh, owner of Anchors, echoed her sentiments. "A goods tax would be absolutely disastrous for Alderney businesses. The economy here is already deprived - income is practically non-existent. If it was introduced while I was carrying on here I would give up."
The Guernsey Bereavement Service has made three visits to Alderney over the past few months and would like to continue to help you. We are visiting the island again on
Tuesday, 23rd February 2024 and would invite anyone who feels they would like Bereavement Counselling to telephone the Bereavement Service Office on 257778 to make a time to meet one of our counsellors.
The Guernsey Bereavement Service has made three visits to Alderney over the past few months and would like to continue to help you. We are visiting the island again on
Tuesday, 23rd February 2024 and would invite anyone who feels they would like Bereavement Counselling to telephone the Bereavement Service Office on 257778 to make a time to meet one of our counsellors. 