Everything an employer on Sint Maarten has to get right, in the order most people need it. Start with how payroll works, then the specific obligations that attach to your situation.
Employing people on Sint Maarten involves more moving parts than most owners expect at the outset. There is the wage tax withheld from each payslip, the social premiums administered through SZV, the contract itself and the rules governing how it can end, and for foreign staff a permit process that runs on its own timetable.
None of these is individually difficult. The difficulty is that they interact, they run on different calendars, and a mistake in one frequently surfaces as a penalty in another. This guide is organised so you can start with the general picture and then go directly to whichever obligation currently applies to you.
A plain-English guide to running payroll in Sint Maarten — wage tax (loonbelasting), SZV premiums (AOV/AWW, AVBZ, ZV/OV), monthly …
Start here 2Every recurring filing a Sint Maarten employer owes in 2026 — monthly wage tax and SZV premiums, monthly turnover tax, the June 30…
Start here 3The real cost of hiring in Sint Maarten goes well beyond gross salary. A breakdown of employer SZV premiums, vacation allowance, 1…
Yes. Every Sint Maarten employer must be registered with the Tax Office and SZV before the first payroll run so that wage tax (loonbelasting) and social premiums can be withheld and remitted correctly. If you're not yet registered, CaribTax handles the full employer registration as part of onboarding.
Sint Maarten payroll involves wage tax (loonbelasting) withheld from salaries, plus social insurance premiums administered through SZV — including AOV/AWW (old age and survivors), AVBZ (long-term care), and ZV/OV (health and accident insurance). The split between employer and employee contributions differs by premium. We calculate each component correctly for every pay period.
Wage tax and social premium declarations are generally filed and paid monthly, with the return and payment due in the month following the payroll period. Late filing triggers automatic penalties and interest — which is exactly what our service is built to prevent.
Yes. We onboard employers at any point in the year, reconcile your year-to-date figures, and continue seamlessly so your annual wage statements stay accurate. Most businesses are fully transitioned within their first pay cycle with us.
It can be. Many clients combine managed payroll with our corporate structure and ongoing compliance services so a single team handles their entire Sint Maarten tax position. Mention your needs in the form and we'll scope the right combination.
A short introductory call, at no cost, to work out what you actually need. Or take the one minute check first.
Book a Free Introductory Call