To get a tax clearance certificate in Trinidad and Tobago, fill out Form P14 and submit it at an Inland Revenue Division (IRD) office with your BIR number and one form of ID. The fee is TT$100. You'll only get it if your required tax returns are filed and any tax you owe is paid.
The certificate confirms you're up to date with the IRD. You need it for government tenders, citizenship, residency and work permit extensions.
What is a Tax Clearance Certificate For?
The IRD says you need one for:
- Tendering for government contracts
- Seeking citizenship
- Seeking residency
- Extending a work permit
Those are the only purposes the IRD's guidance covers. If you need one for something else, call the IRD on 800-TAXX (8299) before you apply.
What You Need
Everyone:
- A completed Form P14 (Application for Certificates). Answer every question. Write "N/A" where a question doesn't apply.
- Your BIR file number. No BIR number yet? Here's how to get one.
- One form of ID: passport, national ID card or driver's permit.
- TT$100 for the fee.
For a work permit extension, also bring:
- Your last work permit.
Form P14 also asks for your occupation, your employer or business details, the purpose of the certificate and, for a tender, the tender closing date.
The Requirements, by Purpose
| Purpose | Who | What the IRD requires |
|---|---|---|
| Tendering | Individual | Tax resident in T&T, a BIR number, all required income tax returns for 6 years filed and all outstanding taxes paid |
| Tendering | Partnership or joint venture | Locally registered, its own BIR number, the names and BIR numbers of all partners. Each partner must meet the individual rules |
| Tendering | Company | Locally registered, a BIR number, all required corporation tax returns filed and taxes paid |
| Citizenship or residency | Employed or self-employed | All income tax returns filed and all outstanding taxes paid |
| Work permit extension | Non-resident | All income tax returns filed, taxes paid, last work permit submitted |
For any purpose, the IRD may interview you (or your company's representative) before issuing the certificate.
How to Apply
- Download Form P14 from ird.gov.tt, or pick one up at an IRD office.
- Fill in every question.
- Take it to an IRD office with your BIR number and ID. The IRD lists these locations for tax clearance:
| Office | Address |
|---|---|
| Port of Spain | Government Campus Plaza |
| San Fernando | Cipero Street |
| Tobago | Scarborough |
- Pay the TT$100 fee at the IRD Cashiers' Unit or at the office where you apply.
The IRD's tax clearance pages don't mention an online application through e-Tax, so plan to go in person.
How Long It Takes, and How Long It Lasts
The IRD doesn't publish a processing time or a validity period for tax clearance certificates.
Two practical points:
- Apply early. If the IRD needs to interview you, or finds a missing return, it will take longer.
- Check what the requester needs. A tendering agency or immigration office may want a certificate issued recently. Ask them.
What Holds Up an Application
Form P14 asks you directly about each of these. If the answer is "no", expect to sort it out first.
- Unfiled returns. The form asks whether you've filed income or corporation tax returns for the last six years. See what happens when you miss the deadline.
- Unpaid tax. All outstanding taxes must be paid.
- Unpaid quarterly instalments. If you're self-employed or have other non-salary income, the form asks whether you've paid all your quarterly instalments. Our guides to sole trader taxes, Business Levy and Health Surcharge explain what's due each quarter.
- No BIR number. You need one before you can apply.
PAYE employee with no other income? You may never have filed, because you weren't required to. If you're applying for citizenship, residency or a work permit, the rule is still "all income tax returns filed", so check with the IRD whether it expects returns from you. Not sure which form applies? Read TD1, TD4, 440-EMO, 400-ITR: which form is which.
For Businesses: VAT Clearance Is Separate
A VAT Clearance Certificate is a different document from a standard tax clearance certificate. It's free today. The 2027 Budget proposes a TT$100 fee for VAT Clearance Certificates from 1 January 2027, matching the tax clearance fee.
Get Your Returns in Order First
A missing return is the most common reason a clearance stalls. TaxDash works out your income tax return and fills it into e-Tax for you to review and submit, so you can get up to date before you apply. Want a quick estimate first? Try the free income tax calculator.
Sources: IRD: Tax Clearance Certificate · IRD: Application for Tax Clearance · IRD: Form P14 · Ministry of Finance: Applying for Tax Clearance Certificate · Ministry of Finance: Budget Statement 2027 · IRD: Contact Us. TaxDash is independent and not affiliated with the IRD. Procedures can change, so check with the IRD if anything here doesn't match what you see.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a tax clearance certificate in Trinidad and Tobago?
Complete Form P14 (Application for Certificates), answering every question, and submit it at an Inland Revenue Division office with your BIR file number and one form of ID. Your required tax returns must be filed and any tax you owe must be paid. The fee is TT$100.
How much does a tax clearance certificate cost in Trinidad?
TT$100. You can pay at the IRD Cashiers' Unit or at the IRD office where you apply.
Can I apply for a tax clearance certificate online in Trinidad?
The IRD's tax clearance pages only list in-person offices: Government Campus Plaza in Port of Spain, Cipero Street in San Fernando, and Scarborough in Tobago. They don't mention an online application through e-Tax.
How long does a tax clearance certificate take in Trinidad?
The IRD doesn't publish a processing time. It may need to interview you first, so apply well before any tender closing date or immigration deadline.
How long is a tax clearance certificate valid in Trinidad?
The IRD doesn't publish a validity period. Ask whoever requested the certificate (the tendering agency, for example) how recent it needs to be.
Why would my tax clearance certificate be refused?
The usual blockers are unfiled income tax returns, unpaid tax and, for the self-employed, unpaid quarterly instalments. For a tender, the IRD expects all required returns for the last six years to be filed.