Stephen Rouxel
President, Chamber of Commerce
Tax reform in Guernsey has long been a lightning rod for public debate. It’s divisive, emotive, and often oversimplified. Yet the numbers—and the message from the business community—are clear: we are facing a structural deficit, and doing nothing is no longer an option.
The Voice of Guernsey Business survey reveals a business community ready to engage in a mature, evidence-based conversation. But it also reveals deep concern: that political inaction, ideological entrenchment, and public mistrust are paralysing progress at the exact moment when strategic clarity is most needed.
The Deficit Is Real.
There is no silver bullet. Whether through tax increases, spending reductions, or a mix of both, Guernsey must find a credible and sustainable path forward.
The business community recognises the challenge. But it wants to see leadership—not just in raising revenue, but in facilitation to help build the kind of economy that can sustain our community over the long term.
This is about more than closing a budget gap. It’s about creating an environment where businesses can grow, investment can flow, and opportunity can reach every corner of our island.
What Does the Business Community Think?
Let’s start with the data:
- 64% support changes to corporate tax – signaling broad openness to reform. This should not be read as broad support for any uncompetitive solution (that would put Guernsey PLC at odds with its competitors) but should be viewed as the door being left open to discussions with government on competitive tax reform.
- 50% are evenly split on personal tax and GST – showing sensitivity to the need to increase the tax take for Guernsey residents. There is no clear
- 7% support tax incentives to support growth, especially for small businesses and innovation. Incentivisation for house building, digital initiatives and small footprint high value industry would clearly be a priority.
- Public spending is under the microscope – businesses are calling for greater efficiency, transparency, and digital transformation in how public money is used. This is not a call for wholesale cuts to central civil service which would be counterproductive and misguided. This is a call for better, more streamlined procurement. A call for efficient and productive income tax department. A call for government to be come good at business as usual rather than barely adequate.
We don’t just want higher taxes—we want better government. That means investment with impact, spending with accountability, and a plan that doesn’t keep changing every four years.
Call to Action: Tax Reform That Works for Guernsey
In our collective Call to Action, we ask for a balanced approach that:
- Diversifies the tax base
Guernsey remains overly reliant on income tax. Diversification through corporate reform, consumption taxes, indirect taxes, or targeted levies must be explored with urgency and transparency. - Links tax to tangible outcomes
If new revenue is raised, the public needs to see the benefit. Housing, education, transport, and digital services must be the priority—not new bureaucracy to box in business and the community with ever more granular rules designed to mitigate smaller and smaller risks that could, quite simply be accepted. - Keeps Guernsey competitive
Guernsey’s tax system must evolve—but it must do so in a way that protects our global reputation, sustains low foot print high-value industries, and encourages entrepreneurship.
One thing that is very clear though is that any prospective Deputy standing on an anti-GST platform must also present clear, data driven detailed alternatives. The business community will not accept simple ideological opposition, but demands details on real numbers and real trade-offs that can be verified using publicly available data.
There is no room for policy by vox pops or argument driven by cognitive bias, this topic is too important to Guernsey’s future.
A New Kind of Leadership Is Needed
Guernsey needs Deputies who will deal with the fiscal reality—not delay the conversation for another four years.
We urge every candidate to:
- Be honest about the scale of the challenge
- Be specific about how they would balance revenue, spending, and investment
- Engage with business—not just during campaigns, but throughout the term
- Resist the temptation to weaponise tax for votes, and instead show the maturity and integrity this moment demands
Let’s Stop Kicking the Can
Guernsey’s fiscal challenge won’t be solved with slogans. But it can be solved—with collaborative thinking, courageous leadership, and a plan that’s grounded in evidence and accountability.
The business community is ready to be part of that solution. We now ask: who in our next States will join us?
