Over 142 taxpayers, who have unpaid taxes and licences are being targeted

Durrant Pate/ Contributor

Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) is currently conducting a series of special operations designated, “GT Retrieve” in the parishes of St. Ann and Trelawny.

This is being executed through TAJ’s Special Enforcement Team in collaboration with the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the St. Ann Municipal Corporation. GT Retrieve is being conducted over a three-day period (Wednesday, April 19 – Friday, April 21, 2023).

It is targeting over 142 taxpayers, who have unpaid taxes and licences which include: Property Tax, General Consumption Tax, Minimum Business Tax, Payroll Taxes, Individual Income Tax and Trade Licences. 

Outstanding taxes amounting $60 million

TAJ is seeking to recover outstanding sums that amount to more than $60 million. The Tax Authority will be targeting taxpayers, who are liable and have outstanding amounts for Trade Licences, who failed to appear in Court regarding the payment of outstanding taxes (arrest warrants). 

Those individuals, who have been ordered by the Court to be arrested and imprisoned because they have defaulted on a Judgement Order (Warrants of Commitment) will also be targeted. Additionally, TAJ will also exercise options under the law to issue Garnishment Notices, Seizure of Assets or start the procedure of registering a lien on properties owned by these taxpayers where applicable, to recover outstanding sums. 

Taxpayers experiencing difficulties meeting their obligations are strongly advised to make suitable arrangements with the tax authority to clear outstanding amounts, as non-compliance will result in enforcement action. TAJ is advising the public that similar operations like GT Retrieve will be conducted in other parishes in the coming months, as it continues to carry out enforcement activities to ensure the protection of the revenue.