Forum to Highlight Tax Administration Week

A Tax Talk Forum at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel on November 1 will be the highlight of the activities for the inaugural Tax Administration Week, being observed from October 28 to November 3.

Communications Officer at Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ), Leighton Beckles, told JIS News that the forum, to be aired live on radio, will seek to engage stakeholders and partners in discussing tax compliance.

Additionally, at the forum, TAJ will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Institute of Chartered Accountants to strengthen the ties between both entities.

Panellists at the forum will include Director of National Integrity Action, Professor Trevor Munroe; Executive Director of Fi Wi Jamaica, Rosalea Hamilton; Chairman of the Taxation Committee, Allison Peart; and CEO of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, Dennis Chung.

Mr. Beckles said the week will be observed under the theme ‘Making a Difference Through Service’, which serves to highlight how TAJ sees its customers internally and externally, and the drive to change its culture to better serve Jamaica.

He added, further, that the week will look at how taxes impact the lives of Jamaicans, and raise awareness of the rights and obligations of the tax payer.

The activities will begin with church services at Northern Caribbean University Chapel in Mandeville on October 28 at 11:00 a.m., at the Swallowfield Chapel in Kingston on October 29 at 10:45 a.m., and at the Faith Temple Assembly of God in Montego Bay on October 29 at 11:00 a.m.

On Thursday (November 2), the TAJ’s staff will visit and present care packages to four children’s homes in Mandeville, Montego Bay, Kingston and St. Andrew.

The week will culminate with a number of social activities in the tax offices around the island on Friday, November 3.

Mr. Beckles said the TAJ will also be on a drive to sensitise persons about tax compliance, and to explain to persons how the TAJ works.

In the meantime, he is urging persons to take advantage of the final few days of the traffic ticket amnesty, which the TAJ will also be accommodating by opening selected offices on Saturday, October 28.

For further information on Tax Week 2017, persons may contact the Tax Administration’s Customer Care Centre at 1-888-Tax-Help (1-888-829-4357)