Belize Government Advances Bill to Create Semi‑Autonomous Revenue Authority

The Briceño administration introduced the Revenue Authority Bill to establish a Semi‑Autonomous Revenue Authority (SARA) aimed at modernising Belize’s tax administration without raising taxes. Prime Minister John Briceño said the body will improve efficiency, introduce merit‑based recruitment, and protect pension and retirement benefits for current staff, offering them options to retire, join SARA, or remain in the wider public service.

The government confirmed the transformation of the Belize Tax Service Department into SARA remains on the agenda, though legislation is still being drafted. Public Service Minister Henry Charles Usher noted the need to resolve the status of roughly 226 tax‑department officers, amid union concerns over job security and potential demotion. The move, first approved in October 2022, was expected to be completed by early 2026, but legislative delays have pushed the timeline further out.