Is the govt making it easier to pay taxes?

Govt making tax transactions easier

The government is continuing to make it easier for the public to do transactions with Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ).

The are already several transactions which can be done online with the latest being the registration of motor vehicles set to go fully online early in 2024.

The taxpayer will be able to initiate the process online and will be notified via email to pick-up the sticker and the registration certificate at the select Tax Office they indicated on the online application, using a special line.

Eventually persons will be able to opt to have the documents delivered by Jamaica Post, at their own expense.

Taxpayers currently have the option of conducting several tax transactions entirely online. These include property taxes, motor vehicle fitness fees, personal and corporate income taxes and other statutory deductions as well as paying traffic ticket fines.

They can also initiate the process of getting a driver’s licence renewed as well as do property tax queries.

Several services are available online via TAJ’s website at www.jamaicatax.gov.jm. To pay online customers simply need to have or create a login account on TAJ’s Tax Portal, have a valid credit card or debit card, such as a Visa or MasterCard debit card that has credit card features to proceed. “How To” guides are available on the TAJ website.

And the government took another step in its digital road map when the TAJ introduced its first non-cash location in the Regal Plaza, Cross Roads area of St. Andrew. The new office is an expanded service feature of the existing Cross Roads Tax Office, located across from it. Taxpayers are advised that the location will only offer non-cash services, which means that persons may only conduct their transactions using a credit card or debit card to make payments.

Motor Vehicle transactions will not be processed at this location. Collection of cash and the processing of all other services will continue at the main Cross Roads Tax Office.

And aggrieved taxpayers may contact the Revenue Appeals Division (RAD) to appeal decisions made by the Revenue Commissioners. Decisions that can be appealed include income tax, general consumption tax, customs valuations and decisions, land valuations, guest accommodation room tax, among others.

To start the appeals process, taxpayers should download and complete the Notice of Appeal form on the Ministry of Finance website and email it to appeals.rad@mof.gov.jm, or deliver it to the RAD at the Office Centre Building, 12 Ocean Boulevard, Kingston.

RAD, which falls under the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, was established as an independent appellate body to hear the appeals of taxpayers against decisions of the revenue authorities.

Meanwhile, four Tax Offices have been ISO 9001:2015 certified by the National Certification Body of Jamaica (NCBJ). This certification means the revenue authority has acquired the seal of approval, for being in compliance with the internationally recognized standard for quality management systems.

The certified locations are the St. Andrew Revenue Service Centre (Constant Spring), May Pen Tax Office in Clarendon, Spanish Town Tax Office in St. Catherine and the Falmouth Tax Office in Trelawny.

The Tax Authority continues to reengineer its business processes and service features, to strengthen its focus on digital technologies in keeping with its mandate to add greater value to its service offerings for greater convenience and efficiency.

For further information persons may call the Tax Administration Customer Care Centre at 888-TAX-HELP (888.829.4357) or visit the website www.jamaicatax.gov.jm.