Importers of Hybrid Vehicles to Pay Fixed GCT Rate of 16.5%

Cabinet has approved amendments to the first Schedule of the General Consumption Tax (GCT) Act to allow all persons importing hybrid vehicles to pay a fixed rate of 16.5 per cent as of July 1 this year.
This was announced by Minister of Information and Development, Donald Buchanan, at the post Cabinet press briefing held at Jamaica House yesterday (June 25).
According to the Minister, importers would pay the same fixed rate of 16.5 per cent, regardless of the engine size of the vehicle.
He informed journalists that the amendment to the Act was as a result of Cabinet giving approval for the inclusion of Hybrid Technology as an alternative source of energy to petrol and diesel.
The Minister said that drafting instructions have been issued to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel, to effect the changes made to the Act.
“All of this is part of the Energy Saving Programme which the Government is seeking to implement, to make Jamaica more energy efficient and energy effective,” Mr. Buchanan said.