TAJ Prepares Staff for September Roll-out of RAIS Phase 3

Tax Administration Jamaica has sensitized over nine hundred (900) members of staff in preparation for the third and final phase of its Revenue Administration Information System (RAIS), scheduled for roll-out on September 5, 2016.

TAJ personnel island-wide have been sensitized to the additions and enhancements to be made to RAIS, which will result in greater efficiency and customer service delivery. The sensitization activity exposed staff to the different aspects of system additions to be rolled out, including reengineered workflow management and business process changes. Additionally, staff were introduced to details of the Enterprise Content Management System (ECM), as this system is being integrated with RAIS, to manage taxpayer documentation such as the Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN) applications and the processing of paper-based returns submitted to the cashier.

RAIS Phase 3 will result in further improvements in the administration of the tax system in Jamaica, including access to a wider range of online services relating to Stamp Duty and Transfer Tax, Withholding Taxes, Environmental Protection Levy, Betting Gaming and Lottery Taxes and Trade and Business Licences.

Externally, TAJ is continuing its series of stakeholder engagements with the private sector and inter-governmental partners, to solicit feedback that will inform the implementation process in preparation for the Phase 3 roll-out of RAIS. Meetings have so far been held with several special interest groups and professional bodies to include members of the Jamaica Bar Association, the Jamaica Bankers Association and the Incorporated Master-builders Association of Jamaica.

Meetings will also be scheduled with taxpayers to advise how they will be able to access and benefit from the enhanced web services.

These changes are all geared towards improving the taxpayer experience and the efficiency and effectiveness of customer service delivery. Administratively, TAJ will expand its use of RAIS to manage tax arrears, generate letters and assign work items related to the additional tax types.

For further information persons may contact the Customer Care Centre at 1-888-Tax-Help (1-888-829-4357) toll-free or visit our website www.jamaicatax.gov.jm.