Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) wishes to advise ALL employers that effective January 1, 2015, they will be required to electronically file their Employers Annual Return (S02) online via the Tax Portal www.jamaicatax.gov.jm. This means that all S02 returns filed as of the New Year are to be e-filed, as such returns filed manually will not be accepted.

This new requirement follows the initial phasing in of e-filing requirement for employers with twenty (20) or more employees, which was introduced on March 1, 2014.

This latest phase in mandatory e-filing requirement is being implemented in partnership with the National Housing Trust (NHT), the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and HEART Trust NTA, to enhance the capacity to more accurately capture data in a timely and cost effective manner and to assist in the efforts to develop a more efficient tax system. It also forms part of the continued effort of the Government of Jamaica to make it easier to do business, as employers will no longer have to visit a Tax or NHT Office to file their consolidated annual S02 return.

TAJ, and its partner agencies will continue to provide support to business persons to help them to meet the new mandatory e-filing requirement. Over the next few weeks Customer Service and Compliance teams from TAJ, NHT, NIS and HEART will be embarking on an island wide programme to provide one-on-one support to employers to assist them to register to use the online option and to demonstrate how to file online. Accountants and other tax preparers may also access support on how to register their clients and to use the TAJ electronic filing platform.
In addition, plans are being finalised to establish filing centres and work stations, where employers and other taxpayers may utilise the computers to be made available for electronic filing and to get assistance from trained personnel. These service points will be set up at several locations operated by the various partner agencies, ahead of the March 2015 filing period.