WILLEMSTAD - The government will increase the Sales tax (OB) from six to seven percent. The new rate will come into effect on 1 July next year. That was announced by the Minister of Finance, Javier Silvania.

The law that should provide for this will be discussed in parliament this week. The levy of nine percent will also be reduced to seven percent, so that each link has a levy of six percent. Only for imports does the OB rate remain nine percent.

Goods and services that are now subject to the zero rate will remain at 0 percent. Silvania wants to have the money transferred directly to the bank account of his ministry for digital payments.