~Receiver says leaked audit violated confidentiality and misrepresented Curaçao’s tax authority.~
WILLEMSTAD:-- The Receiver of Curaçao (Ontvanger di Kòrsou) has issued a firm public statement rejecting claims and allegations circulating in the media based on a leaked report by the Government Accountants Bureau (SOAB). The Receiver described the leak as a “serious breach of confidentiality” that unfairly tarnishes the reputation of the Curaçao Tax Service and the country as a whole.
“It is extremely easy to attack someone who cannot fully defend themselves due to legal confidentiality,” the Receiver said. “The saddest part is that not only the Tax Department but also Curaçao itself is dragged through the mud with all the consequences that follow.”
Leak Names Private Taxpayer
The controversy erupted after parts of an SOAB audit were published in local media, allegedly including the full name of a private taxpayer involved in a dispute over customs and excise duties.
The Receiver called this a “grave error” and a “serious violation” of secrecy laws meant to protect private financial data.
According to the statement, the case referenced in the report dates back to 2016, when Customs issued an assessment of roughly 1.15 million guilders, which was later increased by a 300% penalty. The taxpayer filed objections in mid-2016, with hearings held in early 2017.
A final decision in the case was issued only on May 25, 2021—nearly four years later—after which a six-week appeal period began. In the meantime, standard procedure required the Receiver to suspend collection until the ruling became irrevocable.
Proactive Recovery Efforts
Despite the suspension, the Receiver said it worked “proactively” to secure partial payment through a temporary payment plan initiated in 2018, requiring a NAf 30,000 down payment and monthly installments of NAf 5,000 and NAf 3,000.
Later, Customs reduced the original assessment from NAf 4.6 million to about NAf 2.3 million. By 2021, the Receiver had collected NAf 180,000—before the Minister of Finance’s January 31, 2023, decision halted collection of all tax assessments dated 2017 and earlier.
The Receiver stressed that the decision to stop collections was not made by its office, but by the Ministry itself, emphasizing:
“It was not the Receiver who caused this loss of revenue. This should be clearly understood.”
Dispute Over Ministry Decision
The Receiver’s statement questions the Finance Ministry’s authority and reasoning in implementing the controversial policy, which effectively wrote off over 3.1 million guilders in potential tax revenue.
Of that total, around 2 million guilders relates directly to the same customs case referenced in the SOAB report.
“The question arises: on what basis and under what authority did the Minister make this decision and publish it on social media?” the Receiver asked. “The consequences are significant.”
According to the statement, the Finance Minister’s decision contradicted advice from several oversight institutions, including the CFT (Financial Supervision Board), SOAB, SVB, and the Directorate of Fiscal Affairs, as well as international recommendations by the OECD regarding tax enforcement practices.
Call for Responsible Oversight
The Receiver reaffirmed support for continued modernization and improvement of Curaçao’s Tax Service, but condemned the way the leaked SOAB audit was portrayed.
“Improving the Tax Service is certainly necessary, and nobody denies that,” the Receiver said. “But presenting the matter out of context, based on a leaked and incomplete report, damages public confidence and international credibility.”
The Receiver added that due to confidentiality obligations and an ongoing investigation, no further details could be disclosed at this time.
Context: Broader Transparency Debate
The dispute highlights a broader tension between calls for transparency and the legal duty of tax officials to maintain confidentiality.
Public trust in Curaçao’s fiscal institutions has been under scrutiny in recent years amid reforms to strengthen compliance, reduce deficits, and modernize the island’s revenue collection systems.
Observers say the leak, while exposing alleged inefficiencies, also risks undermining trust in the independence and professionalism of Curaçao’s tax authority.
Conclusion
In closing, the Receiver urged both government officials and the media to handle financial oversight information with care.
“Curaçao’s institutions can and must improve,” the statement read, “but improvement should come through lawful, transparent processes — not through leaks that violate confidentiality and harm the country’s image.”
Source: Official press release from Ontvanger di Kòrsou dated October 21, 2025, translated from Papiamentu.
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