Reverse Tax Credit
The Reverse Tax Credit (RTC) is a refundable cash rebate run by the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) that operates like a negative income tax, paying up to BDS $1,300 a year to low-income employed residents earning $25,000 or less annually. It is funded by the Government of Barbados as part of its cost-of-living relief measures and financed through general tax/National Insurance administration rather than a separate donor fund. Eligible residents file an annual claim through the BRA's TAMIS online portal, and funds are disbursed via direct deposit or cheque. In December 2025 the BRA paid out $16.2 million to nearly 12,000 recipients, plus a further $2.6 million by cheque to about 2,000 people without banking details on file.
Negative income tax, Refundable tax credit, National Insurance rebate, Caribbean, Low-income workers, Cost-of-living relief
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Barbados Revenue Authority
- City
- Bridgetown
- State / Province
- Saint Michael
- Country
- Barbados
Contact
- Website
- https://bra.gov.bb/
- Phone
- +1 246 429 3829
- bramail@bra.gov.bb
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Active
- Application status
- Rolling
- Number of recipients
- 11,941
- Funding type
- Government
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Total Amount
- 1,300
- Avg. Per Month
- 108.33
- Payment frequency
- Lump Sum
- How long the program lasts
- 12 months
- Ongoing / unconditional
- Yes
- Distribution Type
- Direct Deposit, Cheque
- Benefit details
The RTC grants up to BDS $1,300 per income year, tied to National Insurance contributions paid and income earned during that year. Claims are filed as a return in the BRA's TAMIS system for a specific past income year and must be submitted within two years of that year (e.g., a 2020 RTC had to be filed by December 31, 2022). Recipients choose direct deposit to a bank or credit union account, or receive a physical cheque if no banking details are on file. Payouts have been used by the government as a periodic, publicized cash injection (e.g., a bulk December 2025 disbursement) timed to support households around the holiday season. The government has stated it intends to eventually route RTC payments through the national BIMpay digital wallet system.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
The RTC targets low-income PAYE (pay-as-you-earn) employees, not self-employed persons, company directors, or those earning income from goods/services. Claimants must be resident in Barbados, earn $25,000 or less annually (no more than $2,083.33/month), and must have worked at least four months in the income year while earning a minimum of $1,000/month or $250/week. Barbados Today reporting also indicates recipients must have paid less than $500 in income tax for the year. Spouses' TIN information may be required during filing if the claimant is married, but marital status itself is not an eligibility restriction.
Financial
- Income limit (annual household)
- $25,000
- Employment status
- Employed
Geography
- Countries covered
- Barbados
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Application Process
- How to apply
Claimants log in to the BRA's online TAMIS portal (tamis.bra.gov.bb) with their Tax Identification Number (TIN), username and password. In TAMIS they go to Return > Add Return, choose "Reverse Tax Credit" as the tax type and select the income year being claimed (which must be within the past two years). They complete the return by selecting occupation and marital status, entering a spouse's TIN if applicable, confirming pre-filled employment income and National Insurance benefit figures supplied by their employer, and choosing whether to receive the refund via direct deposit (entering bank/credit union and account details) or by cheque. After reviewing the return summary and checking the declaration box, they submit the claim, and a confirmation page shows the RTC amount awarded.
- Selection process
There is no competitive selection or lottery; the BRA determines eligibility and refund amount automatically based on the income, employment duration, and National Insurance contribution data reported on the claimant's TAMIS return and cross-checked against employer-submitted figures. If the reported employment income figures are incorrect, the claimant must cancel the return and resolve the discrepancy with their employer before refiling.
