Did you know that the federal Internal Revenue Service now accepts tax payments by credit card? And that millions of taxpayers are taking advantage of that service?
The idea behind this relatively new policy is, of course, to make it easier for taxpayers to part with what they owe Uncle Sam, and therefore to increase tax collections.
It's an idea the Virgin Islands Internal Revenue Bureau and other tax-collecting agencies here, including the Lieutenant Governor's office, ought to explore — especially given our failure to meet payroll on Thursday and the ongoing, critical need to bring more money into the territorial treasury.
The first step, it seems to us, is for one top official — the governor should decide who — to contact IRS officials to determine how they implemented the use of credit cards. The governor's designee should then examine what would need to be done here for the various V.I. tax-collecting agencies to begin accepting credit-card payments — equipment, training, public notification — and then make it happen.
Many individuals and businesses would jump at the opportunity to pay their taxes via credit cards. It's easy and it's efficient. And let us not forget the added incentive for those with itchy feet: It's a fine way to accumulate frequent flier miles!