On July 31, 2026, the Briceño administration of Belize took a major step toward overhauling the country’s tax governance by formally tabling the Revenue Authority Bill, legislation that would create the long-planned Semi-Autonomous Revenue Authority (SARA), at the nation’s National Assembly.
Prime Minister John Briceño framed the proposed agency as a cornerstone of his government’s efforts to modernize Belize’s tax administration system, emphasizing repeatedly that the reform will not raise tax rates for businesses or ordinary citizens. Before the draft legislation arrived for consideration in the House of Representatives, Briceño noted, a multi-stakeholder review committee carried out extensive assessments of the proposal. That committee included representatives from three key groups: the Public Service Union, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, and the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ensuring that voices from both labor and the private sector were heard during the drafting process.
The core goal of the legislative reform is to address long-standing structural challenges that have hampered the country’s current tax service, Briceño explained. For years, the Belize Tax Service has struggled with prolonged recruitment delays, limited flexibility to hire and retain specialized professional talent, and an outdated performance appraisal system that fails to support results-driven work. The Prime Minister stressed that this critique of the system is not a condemnation of current public servants. “This is in no way a criticism of our public service institution or our public service officers; rather, it recognises that revenue administration have particular skills that they need, as do other specialised public bodies such as the Central Bank of Belize and the Judiciary,” he said.
To address concerns raised by current public sector employees who would be affected by the transition to the new semi-autonomous structure, the legislation offers three clear pathways for affected workers, with all earned retirement benefits fully protected. Staff can choose to retire early, apply for positions within the newly established SARA, or transfer to other roles within the wider public service. Briceño emphasized that the framework is designed to protect worker rights rather than erode them. “This bill gives public officers clear options. The purpose is not to diminish earned rights, but to build and obtain the special capacity Belize needs, while treating every officer fairly,” he stated.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to not increasing tax burdens, Briceño pushed back against potential misinformation surrounding the bill. “And before anyone tries to be reckless, let me state, this bill does not increase taxes. It will not place a heavier burden on businesses and citizens already meeting their obligations. This bill seeks to make administration fairer, faster, more consistent, more effective and more efficient,” he said.
Under the proposed structure, SARA will operate with a new, merit-focused recruitment system designed to attract and retain specialized talent, alongside clearer performance standards and expanded investment in professional development. The authority will be led by a qualified chief executive officer and overseen by a seven-member advisory board. The bill is now set to move through the standard legislative process for debate and voting in the National Assembly.