§1406i Taxes and Fees; Power to Assess and Collect; Ports of Entry; Export Duties

Summary

Local governments in the Virgin Islands can set and collect many kinds of taxes and fees. This includes property and income taxes, internal-revenue taxes, license and service fees, and royalties for franchises or concessions when the local council allows it. Money raised for a special purpose must be kept in a special fund and spent only for that purpose unless the local legislature says otherwise after the purpose is finished. Until Congress changes the rules, the import and customs laws that apply to Saint Thomas and Saint John also apply to the whole Virgin Islands. The Secretary of the Treasury must name the ports and subports, make rules, hire needed officers and workers, set their pay, and pay those wages and other collection costs from the customs money collected. Export duties that existed on June 22, 1936 can be lowered, removed, or brought back by the local council, but no new export duties may be created except by Congress.