Title 33 — Taxation and Finance
44 chapters · 619 sections in this title.
33 V.I.C. § 2305b Federal real estate impact credit
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(a) The Tax Assessor shall determine the percentage of real property the federal government owns on each island at the time the assessment of residential real property under section 2402(a) is made and shall grant a tax credit in that percentage against the taxes levied on the re…
33 V.I.C. § 2305c Circuit breaker tax credit
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(a) Upon proper application to the Tax Assessor, an owner of homestead residential real property or unimproved property is entitled to a credit, not to exceed $5,000, equal to the amount by which the real property taxes calculated for the property for the prior year exceed two pe…
33 V.I.C. § 2331 Unpaid taxes as first lien upon the property
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Taxes levied by the Tax Assessor upon real property shall be a first lien against the real property including any improvements that may be thereon or that may be subsequently placed thereon. The lien shall be prior to all other liens on the property whether they attached before o…
33 V.I.C. § 2332 Lien for the payment of tax by another
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When the real property is levied to any person or agent for another, or in a representative capacity, such person, agent, or representative shall have a lien upon that or any other real property of his principal in his possession, for the taxes thereon, until he is indemnified ag…
33 V.I.C. § 2341 Statement of policy
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The Legislature hereby determines that the preservation of a maximum amount of the limited supply of farmland area is necessary to the viability of the territorial economy. The Legislature further determines that in a rapidly urbanizing society, the public has a definite interest…
33 V.I.C. § 2342 Farmland exemption
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There shall be an tax credit for the property owner of ninety-five percent (95%) of the real property taxes levied by the Tax Assessor against the total area of real property, including structures and improvements thereon, used actively and solely for agricultural or horticultura…
33 V.I.C. § 2343 Definitions
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(a) Real property shall be deemed to be “used actively and solely for agricultural or horticultural purposes” when devoted in a complete and active manner to the production for sale of plants or animals for purposes of human consumption or to the production of products used in th…
33 V.I.C. § 2344 Requirements for real property
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(1) An owner of real property in the Virgin Islands who files timely application shall receive the tax exemption granted by this subchapter on the total area of real property—(1) used actively and solely for agricultural or horticultural purposes;(2) located within an area, estab…
33 V.I.C. § 2345 Determination of real property area and real property use
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(a) For the purposes of this subchapter, in determining the total area of real property used actively and solely for agricultural or horticultural purposes there shall be included the area of all real property under structures and improvements, such as barns and sheds, used in di…
33 V.I.C. § 2346 Roll-back taxes: Determination; enforcement; effect of condemnation
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(a) When real property in agricultural or horticultural use and subject to the tax exemption granted by this subchapter, is applied to a use other than agricultural or horticultural, it shall be subject to additional taxes, hereinafter referred to as “roll-back taxes”, in an amou…
33 V.I.C. § 2347 Change in use; change in ownership; subdivision of part
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(a) If change in use of any real property occurs during the tax year, including the period between October 1, and December 31, the assessor shall deny or nullify the application and shall impose the full tax on the real property. If, notwithstanding such change in use, the exempt…
33 V.I.C. § 2348 Assessment of land not affected by subchapter
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Nothing in this subchapter may in any manner affect the assessment of real property (whether or not used actively and solely for agricultural or horticultural purposes) under this chapter and chapter 85.
33 V.I.C. § 2349 Annual application; form; certificate
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(a) Eligibility of real property for the exemption granted by this subchapter shall be determined for each tax year separately. Applications shall be submitted by the owner to the Lieutenant Governor for referral to the tax assessor on or before October 1, of the tax year for whi…
33 V.I.C. § 2350 Rules and regulations; penalties
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(a) The assessor shall promulgate, amend or repeal such rules and regulations and prescribe such forms as he shall deem necessary to effectuate the purposes of this subchapter, subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor. (b) The pertinent provisions of chapter 77 of Title…
33 V.I.C. § 2355 Statement of policy
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The Legislature hereby determines that there is a continuing and ever increasing need to preserve and protect natural areas, open spaces, the beaches and surrounding waters, historic sites, plant and animal life and the total scenic beauty which are the very essence of the Virgin…
33 V.I.C. § 2355a Exemptions to nonprofit organizations
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(a) In addition to all other exemptions for taxation provided by law, there shall be exempt from property taxes all real property owned by or held in trust for any nonprofit organizations, when such property is(1) used for recreational purposes; or(2) held for the purpose of pres…
33 V.I.C. § 2355b Annual application; form; certificate
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(a) Eligibility of real property for the exemption granted by this subchapter shall be determined by the tax assessor for each and every year for which such exemption is sought. Application for exemption shall be submitted by nonprofit organizations to the tax assessor on or befo…
33 V.I.C. § 2355c Roll-back taxes
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(a) When real property subject to the tax exemption granted by this subchapter, is applied to a use which disqualifies it for exemption, it shall be subject to additional taxes, hereinafter referred to as “roll-back taxes”, in an amount equal to the exemption or exemptions grante…
33 V.I.C. § 2355d Change in use, change in ownership
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(a) If change in use of any real property which qualifies it for exemption occurs during the tax year, including the period between October 1, and December 31, the tax assessor shall deny and nullify the application and shall impose the full tax on such real property. If, notwith…
33 V.I.C. § 2355e Assessment of property not affected
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Nothing in this chapter and chapter 85 may in any manner affect the assessment of real property under this subtitle.
33 V.I.C. § 2355f Rules and regulations; penalties
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(a) The Tax Assessor shall promulgate, amend, or repeal such rules and regulations and prescribe such forms as he shall deem necessary to effectuate the purposes of this subchapter, subject to the approval of the Governor. (b) The pertinent provisions of chapter 77 of Title 14 of…
33 V.I.C. § 2361 Lieutenant Governor as director and supervisor of property assessment
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For the purpose of directing the work of the assessment of property, the preparation of the tax rolls and tax receipts corresponding thereto and the collection of the taxes, the Lieutenant Governor in addition to his other duties, shall have the direction and supervision of the a…
33 V.I.C. § 2362 Duty of recorder of deeds
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(a) Every deed of transfer of real property or interest therein and every mortgage or other security for debt secured by real property, shall be separately and specially recorded by the proper recorder of deeds, without compensation, in a special transfer book to be furnished by …
33 V.I.C. § 2363 Tax assessor, appointment; vacancy
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The Governor shall appoint a tax assessor, who shall have been domiciled in the Virgin Islands not less than three years. The tax assessor shall be attached to the office of the Lieutenant Governor and shall perform his functions and duties under the supervision and control of th…
33 V.I.C. § 2364 Tax assessor; oath of office; bonding
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The assessor before entering on the duties of his office, shall take and subscribe an oath to perform well, faithfully and impartially the several duties of his office and shall execute a bond to the Government of the United States Virgin Islands with good and sufficient sureties…
33 V.I.C. § 2401 Definition of immovables
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(a) For the purpose of the assessment and collection of taxes, real property shall be deemed to be synonymous with immovables. (b) An immovable is a thing which from its nature, destination or the object to which it is applied, cannot move itself or be removed. (c) The following …
33 V.I.C. § 2402 Tax assessor; duties
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(a) The tax assessor shall once every five (5) years, upon actual view, value and assess all residential real property as defined in Section 2301(c)(2) of this title subject to taxation in the Virgin Islands.(1) If, as a result of a reassessment, the amount of real property tax f…
33 V.I.C. § 2403 Method of making assessments
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The Tax Assessor, in making the assessment or in revising existing assessments, shall list each piece or parcel of real estate separately, and give to each its assessed value, together with a description of the parcel and the name and address of the owner, insofar as such informa…
33 V.I.C. § 2404 Assessment of property; factors to be considered
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(a) In assessing the fair market value of real property, the Tax Assessor shall use the applicable standards promulgated by the International Association of Assessing Officers (“IAAO”), and shall promulgate such rules and regulation as necessary to implement the IAAO standards fo…
33 V.I.C. § 2405 Preparation of assessment roll
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(a) The assessment of property, as the same appears on the tax roll last prepared, shall, after it has been corrected, amended and revised, as herein provided for, constitute the assessment roll for the current calendar year. As soon after January 1st of each year as possible, an…
33 V.I.C. § 2406 Oath to be taken by taxpayers upon return of schedules
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Every person liable to taxation under this subtitle shall, at the time of returning the list or schedule provided for in section 2405 of this title to the Tax Assessor, take and subscribe an oath to the following effect—I, , being duly sworn, say that to the best of my knowledge,…
33 V.I.C. § 2407 Persons empowered to administer the oath
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The Lieutenant Governor and the Tax Assessor shall administer the required oath or affirmation to any person or persons listing and valuing their property. No charge shall be made for the taking of the oath or affirmation.
33 V.I.C. § 2408 Penalty for failure to complete the assessment schedule
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(a) Whoever—(1) fails to fill out and return the assessment schedule when so required by the assessor;(2) fails or refuses to take and subscribe any oath, affidavit or affirmation required by this subtitle—shall be fined a sum equal to 10% of the real property tax assessed or $5,…
33 V.I.C. § 2409 Power of Tax Assessor to examine under oath
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In listing or valuing the property of persons who have made no return of the same, the Tax Assessor is authorized to examine under oath or affirmation any person who he may believe has knowledge of the amount and value of said property. For the taking or administering of said oat…
33 V.I.C. § 2410 Person to whom property is assessed
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The Tax Assessor shall assess all real property to the person who is either the owner or in possession of the property as of January 1, and the person appearing of record as of January 1, shall be held to be the true owner thereof, starting with the FY 2013 bills, and similarly f…
33 V.I.C. § 2411 Duty of property owners to report unassessed property
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Every person owning property liable to taxation under this subtitle which has not been assessed for taxation, or which has escaped assessment or taxation for any year, shall report the same to the assessor.
33 V.I.C. § 2412 Notice of new assessment or change in assessment
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(1) The Tax Assessor shall—(1) whenever he makes any changes in the existing assessment of property of a taxpayer; or(2) whenever he assesses the real property of a taxpayer not previously assessed; or(3) whenever he makes any changes in the list and assessment of property as ret…
33 V.I.C. § 2413 Assessment of property which has previously escaped assessment; reassessment of improperly assessed property
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(1) Whenever the Lieutenant Governor learns that any real property liable to taxation has been omitted from the assessment of property of any taxpayer for any year, he shall immediately cause the same to be assessed for the years for which such property has escaped assessment and…
33 V.I.C. § 2414 Transmittal of assessments to the Lieutenant Governor
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As fast as the assessment or revision of the assessment of property required by this subtitle is made, or at such intervals of time as may be fixed by the Lieutenant Governor, the Tax Assessor shall promptly transmit the completed schedules to the Lieutenant Governor, who shall c…
33 V.I.C. § 2451 Appeals to the Board of Tax Review; complaint; time for appeal
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(a) Any person aggrieved by the action of the Tax Assessor in relation to the valuation of his property may make written complaint thereof to the Board of Tax Review; appeal forms shall be available at the division of the Office of the Tax Assessor where property taxes are paid a…
33 V.I.C. § 2452 Board of Tax Review; hearing and functions
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(1) The Board of Tax Review shall with respect to real property assessments hold such hearings within one hundred twenty (120) days of the filing of a written complaint, and in any event, unless the Governor for sufficient cause shall extend the time therefor in writing, not late…
33 V.I.C. § 2453 Board of Tax Review; power; appeals to the Superior Court
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(a) The Board of Tax Review in any proceeding under this subtitle may lessen or increase the valuations made in any schedule returned to it whether a complaint has been made in relation thereto or not. It shall decide all complaints in respect to the assessment of taxes and corre…
33 V.I.C. § 2454 Recording and notice of decisions of the Board of Tax Review
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(a) Every appeal decided by the Board under this subtitle and every valuation changed by the Board shall be recorded in a book provided by the Lieutenant Governor for such purpose, and the appellant or owner of the property, the valuation of which has been changed or whose rights…
33 V.I.C. § 2455 Transmittal of Board records, etc., to the Lieutenant Governor; clerical assistance
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In any proceeding under this subtitle, the Board of Tax Review shall deliver to the Lieutenant Governor all the books, schedules, records and papers which may have been received or used by it in its work of correction and revision. The Lieutenant Governor shall furnish the Board …
33 V.I.C. § 2456 Office of the Tax Assessor Revolving Fund
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(a) There is established in the Treasury of the Government of the Virgin Islands a separate and distinct fund designated as “The Office of the Tax Assessor's Revolving Fund.” The Commissioner of Finance shall provide for the administration of the Fund, and no monies shall be avai…
33 V.I.C. § 2491 Preparation of assessment file
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When the schedules containing the assessments have been duly examined, verified, corrected and revised as provided in this subtitle, the Lieutenant Governor shall cause the same or the tax-rolls corresponding thereto, to be securely filed with appropriate titles and indexes, if n…
33 V.I.C. § 2492 Calculation of tax and public sewer system user fee; delivery of records to Commissioner of Finance for collection
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The Lieutenant Governor shall compute, upon the assessed valuation of the property of each person recorded in the assessment records, the amount of taxes and public sewer system user fees to be paid by such person and such amount shall be entered, with sufficient particularizatio…
33 V.I.C. § 2493 Effect of transfer of property upon assessment of tax and public sewer system user fee
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No change shall be made in the assessment of any property during any year because of its transfer or other alienation. However, if real estate is divided by sale or partition after a tax and public sewer system user fee has been levied thereon and such division has been duly reco…
33 V.I.C. § 2494 Due date for payment of taxes and public sewer system user fees; penalty
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The taxes and public sewer system user fees imposed by this subtitle or public sewer system user fee imposed by Title 19, section 1534, Virgin Islands Code shall be due and payable on June 30th of each year. Such taxes and public sewer system user fees shall become delinquent if …
33 V.I.C. § 2494a Government acceptance of real property in lieu of payment of real property taxes
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(1) The Lieutenant Governor, on behalf of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands, is authorized to accept real property in lieu of the payment of, or to satisfy a debt resulting from the non-payment of real property taxes owed to the Government. (2) Upon written reque…