Guyana plans tax incentives and support for families caring for children with disabilities

Parents of children living with disabilities in Guyana may soon receive special tax incentives and other forms of government assistance aimed at easing the financial burden they often face.

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President Dr. Irfaan Ali made the announcement during a Region Six cabinet outreach in New Amsterdam, emphasizing that the measures are designed to support families caring for children with special needs.

“We are working out a mechanism to give special tax incentives and special support for parents who have children living with disabilities, because we know sometimes at least one of our parents will have to stay home to take care of that child,” President Ali said. “We want to have an incentive system that will also help that parent, either in tax incentives or direct transfer, so that those children can also be taken care of.”

The initiative is part of a broader government effort to ensure that all children—and their parents—receive the support needed to live with dignity. “You have a government that is matching your love at a national scale, because we love everyone … and we want the best for everyone,” President Ali added.

Additional Support for Childcare and Elderly Care

President Ali also highlighted plans to invest in secure childcare and elderly care facilities, ensuring access to safe, well-managed centres for both seniors and young professionals. The government will soon announce additional measures to help operators improve these facilities, creating business opportunities for individuals trained under the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s WIIN programme.

A subsidised system is expected to reduce the financial burden on parents, with the government covering part of childcare costs so families do not have to pay full rates.

Existing Tax Measures and Grants

The government has already implemented several tax measures to support families. Adults with children currently benefit from an increased income tax threshold, allowing a parent to deduct $10,000 per month per child—equivalent to $120,000 per year per child—from taxes owed.

In addition, a one-off $100,000 cash grant is provided for every newborn born to a Guyanese mother in the country. Launched in March 2025, the grant applies retroactively to all births on or after January 1, 2025.

Earlier this year, in August, President Ali also announced that special tax incentives would be introduced for families led by single mothers.