TAJ allows more time to file GCT return

Consumption Taxes for the month of January were due to be filed at the end of February, however Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) is allowing taxpayers until Tuesday, March 3, 2015 to file and pay their General Consumption Tax (GCT), Special Consumption Tax (SCT), Telephone Call Tax (TCT) and Guest Accommodation Room Tax (GART) returns without any late charges being applied.

The decision was taken to extend the period to allow persons more time to become familiar with the new Revenue Administration Information System (RAiS), which may be used to file and pay these taxes online. To get assistance to access, file and pay using the new online system customers may contact the TAJ Customer Care Centre at 1-888-Tax-Help or a Taxpayer Education Officer assigned to a Revenue Service Centre, while Large Taxpayers may get in touch with their Client Relationship Manager.

RAiS was successfully rolled out on February 9, 2015 with an enhanced web service. It allows taxpayers to file these monthly returns online through the TAJ portal www.jamaicatax.gov.jm. Payments may be made using a credit card. Additionally, persons with a BNS account may use the automated direct banking feature in RAiS, which allows payments via the banking system’s Automated Clearing House (ACH) platform.

Up to 2:00 pm last Friday just under 1,000 GCT returns were filed through the RAiS web service. Several SCT, GART and TCT returns were also recorded as filed via the new RAiS platform.

Taxpayers who have not yet filed these returns are reminded that revised GCT returns forms are in effect since January 1, 2015. These revised GCT forms, which reflect recent legislative changes, are to be used when filing the returns due as of this date. RAiS has been configured with the old and new forms, however persons filing their GCT return manually are asked to ensure they use the version of the GCT form related to the particular period. The respective versions are available for download from the TAJ’s website, for persons filing in office.

Taxpayers are urged to file the outstanding GCT returns, online using RAiS or inline at any tax office by the March 3 extended date, as the system has been adjusted to apply interest and penalty as of March 4, 2015.

Since the rollout of RAiS hundreds of customers have also used the system to query their account, update their profile, grant third party access to their accountant, and make automated direct bank payments, among other activities.