Last month Tax Administration Jamaica’s (TAJ) Special Enforcement Team (SET) with the support of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) began conducting a number of tax recovery operations in the parish of St. Thomas. This series of operations is targeting Thirty-five (35) chronically delinquent taxpayers in the parish who have failed to settle outstanding taxes, despite numerous efforts on the part of the tax authority to recover those amounts.

The tax recovery activities are being conducted in two phases, the first of which will entail members of SET or the local tax offices contacting the delinquent taxpayers. The individuals contacted will be given until November 3, 2016 to make full payment or pay down a significant portion of the outstanding amounts with a commitment to settle the balance in short order.

The contacted taxpayers who fail to comply with the stipulated deadline given by the Tax Authority will face strong enforcement action beginning November 7, 2016 in the second phase of the operation. Members of the JCF will provide support to the Special Enforcement Team, to effect arrests for chronically delinquent taxpayers for whom bench warrants and warrants of disobedience have been issued.

Additionally, the Tax Administration Jamaica will also exercise the options under law, to issue 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.

TAJ wishes to advise the public that similar operations will be conducted in other parishes in the coming weeks, as TAJ continues to carry out enforcement activities to ensure the protection of the revenue. Taxpayers, who have been contacted as a result of these increased enforcement activities, are strongly advised to make suitable arrangements with the tax authority to clear outstanding amounts, as non-compliance will result in enforcement action.

Source: Tax Administration Of Jamaica