WILLEMSTAD – The backlog in the processing of income tax returns on Curaçao is continuing to grow, despite previous directives aimed at speeding up the workflow. According to an internal report from the Tax Inspectorate, dated May 14, the number of unprocessed filings is slightly increasing. 

As of the end of March 2025, nearly 3,000 income tax returns had been processed, half of them manually. However, by May 15, the total workload had not decreased. This means the Tax Office is still falling behind in handling returns for the 2023 and 2024 tax years. 

Finance Minister Javier Silvania has instructed the Inspectorate to carry out a new “aanslagen-run” (tax assessment batch) no later than the end of May, specifically for those tax years. In addition, the Tax Office must now provide weekly updates with detailed activity plans that clearly outline how and when the backlog will be significantly reduced. 

The processing delays not only affect individual taxpayers, but also have direct consequences for public finances. Until assessments are issued, tax revenues are not collected, putting pressure on the national budget. The Ministry of Finance emphasized that timely and accurate tax assessments are essential for public trust in the fiscal system and the financial stability of the country. 

The Tax Inspectorate has been struggling with long-standing issues, including outdated IT systems and staff shortages. So far, earlier measures to boost productivity have not resulted in a meaningful reduction of the backlog. The situation remains a top concern for the Ministry, which is monitoring developments closely.