The Belize Tax Service has reported a highly successful implementation of its second annual GST-free holiday shopping weekend, generating substantial consumer activity just days before Christmas. Despite isolated incidents of retailers incorrectly applying the standard 12.5% General Sales Tax, officials expressed overwhelming satisfaction with the program’s execution and public response.
Vilma Broaster, Deputy Director General of the Belize Tax Service, provided initial observations indicating strong public participation. While comprehensive data won’t be available until January, Broaster noted significantly reduced complaint volumes compared to the previous year’s event. “There were taxpayers, consumers who had called in and said that they were still being charged the GST,” Broaster acknowledged, adding that these cases represented isolated incidents rather than widespread non-compliance.
The initiative, designed to stimulate local economic activity and provide consumer relief during the holiday season, marked Belize’s third GST-free shopping event following a similar back-to-school promotion earlier in 2025. Broaster personally witnessed the intense retail activity, describing packed parking lots and crowded stores that forced her to abandon shopping attempts on both Saturday and Sunday.
When questioned about the program’s future, Broaster confirmed the government’s commitment to continuing both the Christmas and back-to-school GST-free weekends. The Tax Service plans to submit recommendations for procedural refinements to enhance future implementations, with continued consultation between government authorities, business operators, and consumers.