TAJ Set to Improve Online Services with Stamp Duty & Transfer Tax Addition

On September 5, 2016 taxpayers will be able to access a wider range of Stamp Duty and Transfer Tax services online when Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) rolls-out related services in the latest phase of the Revenue Administration Information System (RAiS). Persons will also be able to make payments for this tax type at any tax office island wide, with document processing being done at three locations Stamp Office Harbour Street, May Pen and Montego Bay tax offices. This third and final phase of RAiS is expected to improve service efficiency and provide greater convenience for taxpayers, while providing TAJ with a greater capacity to monitor Stamp Duty and Transfer Tax.

As part of the service enhancement through the RAiS platform, the stamping of documents with a vermillion stamp will now be replaced with the use of a barcode endorser. This means that the validation of these documents will be done online.

Additionally, all estates will now require a Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN) for the registration and processing of documents. Persons are reminded that to get a TRN for an Estate, the personal representative is required to complete a TRN application form for organisation and submit an ID along with the following documents; proof of death, copy of will, Grant of Probate or Administration, in the absence of the ‘Grant’ the Oath of Executor or Administrator. For cases that involve property held in joint tenancy, then the TRN of the surviving joint tenant(s) is sufficient.

As the tax authority continues to make preparations to roll-out Stamp Duty and Transfer Tax on the new platform, persons are encouraged to complete their transactions before September 2 to avoid possible service delays, as the organization upgrades its services for improved efficiency and customer service delivery. As a result, all documents for which payments have been made in full should be collected by September 1.

Since the start of the year, several stakeholder engagements have been held with the National Land Agency (NLA) and members of the legal fraternity and the judicial system.

Discussions have been held with the Chief Justice and other representatives of the Courts of Jamaica, The Jamaica Bar Association, and its Conveyancing Committee and the Cornwall Bar Association, as TAJ takes on board the feedback of various interest groups to inform the smooth implementation of the new online tax services.

RAiS Phase 3 will also include the introduction of Withholding Taxes, Environmental Protection Levy, Betting Gaming and Lottery Taxes and Trade and Business Licences as part of the new online service options. Other benefits include; reduction in costs associated with certificate printing and the streamlining of the filing of tax returns with certificate information being prepopulated in the online returns.