Tax-cheat hotline introduced:Investigators to turn spotlight on professionals

Tax Administration Jamaica will be opening up two lines of communication through which the public can confidentially submit information about persons they suspect are not paying their taxes.

They can mail in information to the department or call.

A tax-cheat toll-free line, 1-888-292-4328, will be introduced on May 1, said Minister of Finance Audley Shaw as he opened the 2011-12 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives Thursday.

"I am inviting all well-meaning, civic-minded Jamaicans to report incidents of tax cheats, and you won't have to give your name. These reports will be confidentially received and discreetly investigated by senior officers, similar to the successful Crime Stop Programme," he said.

Shaw said this has become necessary as the Government moves to ensure that persons pay their fair share of taxes. He stressed that because it is difficult for Tax Administration to take on the task alone, the public's support will be engaged to identify individuals and companies cheating the Government of tax revenue.

unfair

"It is not fair for some persons, such as employed persons paying under the PAYE system, to be burdened while others are not meeting their tax obligations," he stated.

The finance minister said if everyone paid their taxes, the Government would have more resources to meet the ever-growing needs for education, health, and national security.

Shaw also told lawmakers that Tax Administration would be introducing a national compliance programme - making it mandatory for certain individuals to file annual income tax returns - particularly targeting professionals such as doctors, lawyers and accountants, and others who underreport their earnings.

"Everybody must pay their fair share of taxes," said Shaw.

"To close the tax gap of persons operating a cash economy, tax inspectors will be appointed to deal specifically with such entities," he said.

The inspectors will visit establishments unannounced to carry out spot audits. Additionally, persons operating on a cash basis will be required to pay over general consumption tax collected by the 15th of each month.

- JIS