More Persons Using Electronic Business Registration Form

More business people are using the electronic business registration form (eBRF) to register their operations since the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The online platform, launched by the Companies Office of Jamaica (COJ) in August 2019, replaces the paper-based ‘superform’ that was introduced in 2014 and allows users to register their business name or company name from anywhere in the world, via the COJ’s website, www.orcjamaica.com.

Public Relations Officer of the COJ, Kawain Fearon, told JIS News that more than 800 entities have registered since January 2020 using the online platform, with 400 between March and May.

“There was a bit of decline when the lockdown started… because of the uncertainty of the environment, but in May there was a big increase in the usage,” he said, adding that many of the businesses registered were online and delivery services.

Mr. Fearon told JIS News that the COJ wants to have more persons using the eBRF.

“We are doing a lot more engagement with our customers to highlight the importance and ease of access using the eBRF,” he said.

He noted that the COJ is in the process of setting up kiosks at its offices and at Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) for individuals without access to a computer.

Mr. Fearon is also encouraging persons to use the COJ’s website to request status letters, search for entities, download documents, among other things.

“There is no need to leave your home or office to do business at the COJ. We encourage persons to use those features because it will allow them to do it in their own time and leisure and they can get documents a lot faster than coming into the office,” he pointed out.

Persons can contact the COJ’s head office in Kingston at 876-908-4419-26 or email: custsupport@orcjamaica.com for additional information.

The eBRF form is a collaborative effort involving the Public Sector Transformation and Modernisation Division in the Office of the Cabinet, with funding support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The initiative is part of measures by the Government to make business registration easier in Jamaica in order to improve ease of doing business.