Facing sustained inflationary pressure on household expenses driven by ongoing global economic disruptions, the Government of Grenada has advanced its wide-ranging Cost of Living Assistance Programme with the release of a preliminary roster of businesses approved to participate in the upcoming VAT-Free Weekend initiative.
The full preliminary list of eligible suppliers is currently hosted on the official website of Grenada’s Ministry of Finance. Local business entities that believe they meet all qualifying criteria but do not see their name included on the published list have until 19 August 2026 to file an appeal directly with the country’s Inland Revenue Division (IRD).
The VAT-Free Weekend is a core component of a broader suite of relief measures first unveiled in July 2026 by Minister for Finance Dennis Cornwall, designed to ease the financial strain of rising living costs for households across the island nation. The rollout of these policies comes in direct response to persistent upward pressure on food and fuel prices, a trend rooted in continuing volatility and disruptions to the global economy.
On 12 August 2026, the Grenadian government formalized the full package of relief policies through an Extraordinary Gazette, which published four new Statutory Rules and Orders (SRO) to give legal force to the programme:
1. SRO No. 16 of 2026: The Customs (Service Charge) (Petrol) Order, 2026
2. SRO No. 17 of 2026: The Supplies Control (Petrol Prices) Regulations, 2026
3. SRO No. 18 of 2026: The Value Added Tax (Amendment of Third Schedule) Order, 2026
4. SRO No. 19 of 2026: The Value Added Tax (VAT-Free Period — August) Order, 2026
Taken together, these regulatory changes deliver direct, immediate financial relief to consumers by cutting fuel costs and creating a temporary window for tax-free retail purchases. Per the provisions of the VAT-Free Period Order, Minister Cornwall has invoked authority granted under Section 67 of the Value Added Tax Act, Chapter 333A, to designate a two-day VAT-free period running from 12:01 a.m. on Friday, 28 August 2026, through 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, 29 August 2026.
For the duration of this window, all qualifying goods will be classified as zero-rated supplies, meaning consumers will not pay VAT on eligible purchases at checkout, unlocking instant savings at the point of sale.
Government officials have highlighted that the initiative serves two connected goals: it gives Grenadian households a chance to save on essential everyday purchases, while also boosting commercial activity across the domestic retail sector. When paired with the accompanying fuel cost reduction measures, the VAT-Free Weekend forms a targeted policy response to the widespread financial hardship currently impacting families across Grenada.
Consumers are advised to review the full list of approved participating businesses ahead of the event to maximize the savings available during the 28–29 August 2026 weekend. The full text of all SROs is available for public reference online. For additional updates or to access the preliminary eligible business roster, residents can visit the Ministry of Finance website or reach out directly to the Inland Revenue Division.