The Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) has announced that all Tax Offices and the Stamp Duty and Transfer Tax Office will continue to operate during the new COVID-19 work-from-home order, which comes into effect on Thursday, March 4.

According to the TAJ, a further assessment has been conducted of all the functions within the organization following the announcement by Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Sunday, February 28.

It has been determined that based on the critical services of TAJ that cannot be provided remotely, frontline staff, supervisors, and support teams will continue to provide face-to-face and onsite service to customers.

However, several areas considered non-critical for face-to-face operations, such as the TAJ Customer Care Centre, will continue to operate remotely.

The TAJ says that in an effort to minimise the numbers of persons visiting the Tax Offices locations, customers are urged to use the alternate options that are available to conduct their tax-related business, instead of visiting a Tax Office.  These include:

The TAJ Online tax platform at www.jamaicatax.gov.jm, which now offers a wider range of filing, payment and other services from anywhere, at any time.

Customers who use the National Commercial Bank may also now use their NCB Online Banking platform to add TAJ as a payee to pay Property Tax and business related taxes; then be able to generate and print their official receipt from the TAJ website.

Customers may also use the new Direct Funds Transfer option, to make payments directly from their bank account into TAJ’s bank account for several business related taxes, and then be able to generate and print their own official receipt from the TAJ website.

The TAJ Mobile App can be used to query and pay Property Tax, pay Certificate of Fitness Fee and pay Traffic Ticket.

Also, a Mobile Tax Collection Unit is available by schedule to visit select communities. One of the two units is available at King Street on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, that allows for the payment of Property Tax, Police Record, Traffic Tickets and Trade Licences.

Notwithstanding these alternate arrangements, TAJ is aware that some customers will still need to visit a Tax Office to do certain transactions. However, taking into consideration the continued appeal by the Ministry of Health and Wellness to maintain physical distancing and discourage mass gatherings, the public is advised of the following measures that are currently in place at TAJ locations:

1. The number of persons allowed into an office at any one time is limited, to satisfy the physical distance requirement in the interest of the health and safety of staff and customers.
2. Mandatory mask requirement.
3. Temperature check necessary to enter premises.
4. The six-feet physical distance required (floor markers installed).
5. Numbering system initiated at Tax Offices to manage the flow of the queue.
6. Priority service is given to senior citizens and the physically challenged.
7. Tents have been erected at locations that can accommodate same. This is reviewed and expanded as necessary.
8. Chairs are available at several locations, so customers may be seated while they wait.
9. Loudspeakers/bullhorns available at several locations to guide customers.
10. The frequency of sanitisation of commonly used areas has been increased and is continuous throughout the day.
11. Changes have been made to some procedures, such as Driver’s Licence renewal. Customers are now able to pay online line and then drop off the necessary documents for processing; then check the status online for when to return to pick up.
12. Security officers and customer service representatives will constantly remind persons waiting in line to observe the physical distancing requirement.

Additionally, the TAJ notes that as we enter the peak of the tax season and in anticipation of the additional demand on their services, a decision has been taken to temporarily operate the St Andrew, Montego Bay and Mandeville revenue services centres, as well as the St Ann’s Bay and Savanna-La-Mar tax offices on Saturdays, beginning March 13 through to April 24.

These will be in addition to the Portmore Tax Office, which has resumed opening on Saturdays. The public will be advised of further details.

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