TAJ Threshold Abuse Audit Programme brings over 1,800 Taxpayers to Book

A Threshold Abuse Programme implemented In the last financial year 2016/17 has resulted in approximately one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one (1,821) taxpayers being assessed/audited and led to the identification of two thousand, two hundred and thirty seven (2,237) leads to be pursued. The audit programme examined the S02 (Employers Annual Return) for the years 2013 & 2014, and was developed to address payroll variances detected through analytics from the Revenue Administration Information System (RAiS). The Programme, has to date, yielded an additional $167.2M for the government’s coffers.

Encouraged by last year’s results, this audit programme will continue into the 2017/18 financial year at which time the 2015 and 2016 S02 records will be reviewed. The programme had two main objectives. Firstly, to assess any additional taxes that may be due arising from the taxpayer’s employment information presented including statutory deductions, and secondly, to educate them on their entitlement to one threshold per year of assessment as well as their obligation to report and declare income from more than one employer.

Taxpayers with multiple employment, are being reminded that they have an obligation to file a personal income tax return, reporting their total income earned from all sources, tax withheld at source and any tax liability for the year of assessment.

For further information call the Tax Administration Customer Care Centre at 1-888-Tax-Help (1-888-829-4357) or visit the website www.jamaicatax.gov.jm.