TAJ Increases Assistance To Persons And Companies Filing 2015 Income Tax Returns

Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) has increased its support to small businesses and self-employed persons, under the Special Taxpayer Assistance Programme, to enable them to meet this year’s March 15 deadline for filing income tax returns

Communications Officer, Leighton Beckles, told JIS News that the TAJ has been hosting sessions for these groups, free of cost, islandwide.

“Small business persons and self-employed individuals are able to come into these sessions and…get assistance from tax personnel (on how) to prepare the returns,” he said, adding that “there is major focus (on) registering persons to file online, which is easier, convenient, much faster and secure.”

Meanwhile, with the March 15 deadline just a few days away, TAJ is again urging persons and organisations to make the requisite preparations to file their 2015 returns, and declare their estimated income and tax, payable for 2016.

Mr. Beckles said failure to do so on time will attract a $5,000 penalty for each additional month that the returns remain outstanding.

The TAJ’s Tax Payer Education Manager, Denise Coley-Wilson, said persons and organizations those filing on-line should create an account, which will enable them to select the period for which they are making returns, and upload the supporting documents.

Self-employed persons are required to obtain an SO4 and SO4A form; companies – an ITO2; and employed persons, inclusive of Pay as You Earn (PAYE) individuals and pensioners – an ITO5 form.