THE HAGUE – Curaçao is preparing a major overhaul of both its tax system and public administration as part of the next phase of reforms under the Landspakket (reform package) agreement with the Netherlands.
The new implementation report confirms that authorities are now focusing heavily on introducing a new VAT system and reorganizing the Tax Department, both considered central pillars of Curaçao’s economic and fiscal reform agenda.
According to the report, political commitment has recently been reaffirmed for both projects.
A joint action plan for the modernization of the Tax Department is currently being prepared, while a separate VAT implementation plan is expected before the summer of 2026.
The reforms are part of broader efforts to create a tax system capable of generating sufficient structural revenue to finance both government operations and investments, while improving enforcement and customer service within the tax authority.
Beyond taxes, the report outlines a large-scale restructuring of Curaçao’s public sector.
The government has officially restarted its administrative reform process through the “Future Proof Organisation Gobièrnu di Kòrsou” project, aimed at redesigning ministries, improving internal governance and modernizing human resources policies.
The program includes new organization models for ministries, management development programs, updated labor conditions and modern mobility policies for civil servants.
The report also reveals that the government is pursuing a modern salary structure intended to make public service more attractive, particularly for strategic positions from salary scale 10 upward.
At the same time, Curaçao is continuing investigations into the governance and effectiveness of government-owned companies.
Audits of several government-owned entities have experienced delays because some companies failed to provide information to investigators on time. The government now expects those reviews to be completed by July 2026.
Another major reform area involves public service delivery.
The government plans to establish a centralized “Samenlevingsloket” — a single service center intended to simplify interactions between citizens and government agencies. The organizational design phase is expected to conclude during 2026.
The report states that the overall goal of the reforms is to create a more efficient, transparent and better functioning public sector capable of supporting long-term economic growth and stronger governance.