St. Catherine Tax Recovery Operation Yield Results

Earlier this month Tax Administration Jamaica’s (TAJ), Special Enforcement Team (SET) began conducting a number of tax recovery activities dubbed “Old Capital” in the parish of St. Catherine. This initiative yielded an eighty-eight percent (88%) success rate. The operation supported by the Major Organized Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), targeted one hundred and thirty-three (133) chronically delinquent taxpayers which resulted in one hundred and seventeen (117) taxpayers making full payments, entering into payment arrangements or are currently facing various enforcement actions to recover the outstanding amounts in short order.

The tax authority issued Garnishment Notices to employers and tenants of seventeen (17) delinquent taxpayers. This means that amounts owing to the TAJ will be deducted from either the salaries or rent due to the taxpayer at source to settle tax liabilities as the law provides for. Twenty-Seven (27) Lien Warning Notices were issued to individuals, who were given until March 15, 2017 to settle their outstanding amounts in full or face the registration of a lien against their properties. Six (6) of the nine (9) delinquent taxpayers who were arrested during the operation settled their outstanding taxes on the same day and the remaining three (3) persons were given an order to appear before the Parish Court, after which they were granted bail. However, during the operation further investigation was conducted and twelve (12) individuals were found to be possibly eligible for tax relief.

TAJ will conduct similar operations over the next several weeks in other parishes. These operations form part of the Authority’s thrust to increase enforcement activities to protect the revenue by exercising options under the law, though the issuance of Garnishment Notices, Seizure of Assets or starting the procedure of registering a lien on properties owned by these taxpayers where applicable, to recover outstanding sums.

For further information on the Tax Laws and any other tax related matters, persons may contact the Tax Administration Jamaica’s Customer Care Centre at 1-888-Tax-Help (1-888-829-4357) toll-free, visit our website www.jamaicatax.gov.jm or the nearest Tax Office.