12% Building Tax to be levied on BSB area

Commercial buildings in the newly-gazetted area of Bandar Seri Begawan, BSB will be levied a 12 per cent annual Building Tax. Following the expansion of areas under the jurisdiction of the Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Board from a total of 1,208.7 hectares to 10,036.24 hectares on August 1st, 2007, owners of commercial buildings under the newly expanded area will soon have to start paying building tax. Under the Municipal Board Act, Chapter 57, the BSB Municipal Board has been mandated to collect the building tax.

The percentage of building tax levied will be not more than 12 per cent, depending on the availability of eight facilities that are provided by His Majesty’s Government namely water services that comprises two per cent of the total levied tax, police presence 1 percent, fire and rescue presence 1 percent, provision of entrance roads 2 percent, provision of street lighting 2 percent, garbage collection services 1 percent, sewage system 2 percent and cleaning services 1 percent.

These expanded areas include the vicinities of Mukim Kianggeh, Mukim Gadong, Mukim Berakas ‘A’, Mukim Berakas ‘B’, Mukim Kota Batu and Mukim Kilanas.

The 12 per cent Building Tax revenue will be divided among the following services:

Police Control Posts: 1 per cent

Fire Stations: 1 per cent

Streetlight maintenance and facilitation: 2 per cent

Bandar maintenance: 1 per cent

Access roads to main roads: 2 per cent

Water Supply: 2 per cent

Waste Management: 1 per cent

Sewage Management: 2 per cent

Sources:
RTB News 3rd January 2009
Brunei Times 31st December 2008