President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali says the government will raise the income tax threshold to $200,000 before the end of its current term, noting that the move will provide greater financial relief for workers and their families.
The President made the announcement on Tuesday during the 78th commemoration of the Enmore Martyrs, where he outlined measures aimed at improving living standards and expanding opportunities for working-class Guyanese.
Since returning to office in 2020, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration has raised the income tax threshold from $65,000 to $140,000 this year, an increase of $75,000.
“The new base now is a new threshold. And we said that before the end of this term, that new base will be $200,000, upon which our workers will stand — $200,000 tax-free,” Ali said.
The most recent increase took effect earlier this year, when the threshold was raised from $130,000 to $140,000.
Ali said the higher threshold formed part of a broader push to improve workers’ welfare, including expanded access to education and healthcare.
“The new base is that every single child of the worker can now obtain a degree, a master’s or a PhD free of cost,” he said, pointing to the government’s investment in free tertiary education.
He also cited investment in healthcare, including expanded cancer treatment, eye care and other medical assistance programmes.
“The new base is that you will be able to access all cancer treatment services right here in this country because our government will invest in them,” he said.
Ali said the government’s social and economic policies are intended to ensure that the benefits of Guyana’s rapid economic growth reach ordinary citizens through higher incomes, improved public services and expanded opportunities.
He made the remarks while paying tribute to the Enmore Martyrs — Lallabagee, Rambarran, Harry, Pooran and Surujballi — the five sugar workers who were killed during a labour protest on 16 June 1948, saying their sacrifice continues to inspire efforts to improve the lives of workers.
