Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) will implement the next phase of its mandatory e-filing of tax returns on January 1, 2017. This is in keeping with TAJ’s continued focus on enhancing system capacity to capture data in a more accurate and timely manner, as well as to assist in the efforts to develop a more efficient tax system.

The group that has been identified for mandatory e-filing of GCT Returns via the Jamaica Tax Portal at www.jamaicatax.gov.jm in this phase, is Medium (upper and lower) taxpayers who are classified by :-

- Annual sales of $150M - $1B
- Annual tax payments of $30M - $500M

This new procedural change will require this group of taxpayers to file their monthly GCT returns online. This will take effect in January 2017 when the December 2016 return falls due.

The amendment to the Revenue Administration Act gives the Commissioner General the authority to require any person to furnish a return as considered necessary in such form and manner as directed.

To assist businesses to meet this legal obligation, TAJ will be providing training support to persons identified in this third phase of the mandatory e-filing requirement. Taxpayers can therefore, make arrangements for eOne-on-One sessions to train their staff or request an
Advisory Visit at their business locations to get assistance on the procedure to e-file returns.

Taxpayers are advised to contact their Client Relationship Manager (CRM), Taxpayer Education Manager or the Customer Care Centre to register for e-fling or to arrange for the assistance. Additionally, a ‘How To’ guide for eFiling of Consumption Tax Returns is available
online on the TAJ website at www.jamaicatax.gov.jm.

Additionally, while this group of taxpayers is now being mandated to e-file their GCT returns, other businesses and persons are encouraged to use the convenience of the website to file their returns. Support will also be provided, if required. Large taxpayers and all employers are already required to file online and TAJ will be moving in short order, to require other taxpayer segments and types of returns to be filed electronically.

Source: Tax Administration Jamaica