Jamaica's
tax administrators are making feverish efforts to improve weaknesses in the tax
collection system.
Word emerged on Monday that Jamaica is again featured in a report as one of the ten worst places in the world to pay taxes.
The report focuses on the number of tax payments made, the time it takes to comply, and the cost of taxes, which is measured by the total tax rate.
According to the report, titled "Paying Taxes 2008" the World Bank, IFC, and PricewaterhouseCoopers placed Jamaica among the 10 most difficult countries in the world to pay taxes.
Speaking with the RJR News Centre Monday morning Director of Public Relations at the Tax Administration Services Department Meris Haughton acknowledged the weaknesses in the system.
However she said her department is doing all it can to shore up the efficiency of the system.
"On the administrative side, we have noted some of the challenges and we have put in place measures to ease the payment of taxes in terms of how easy it is to pay taxes. We have put in place online payment facility, which makes it easier for persons to comply," she said.
In addition, Miss Haughton said there is a move underway to get the country's tax policies in line with technology:
"On the policy side of things, you are aware that there is a tax reform project that is currently underway, which would address some of these issues such in terms of the number of tax types, tax rates and things like that? With the passage of the E-Transaction Act, that has been passed, the regulations are now being drafted and this will make it even easier for persons to file, because as it stands now, they cannot file on line," said Meris Haughtion, Director of Public Relations at the Tax Administration Services Department.
The other countries on the worst ten list are Panama, Mauritania, Bolivia, the Gambia, Venezuela, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Ukraine, and Belarus.
This year's top 10 economies for ease of paying taxes featured the Maldives, Singapore, Hong Kong (China), United Arab Emirates, Oman, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, New Zealand, and Kiribati in that order.
Word emerged on Monday that Jamaica is again featured in a report as one of the ten worst places in the world to pay taxes.
The report focuses on the number of tax payments made, the time it takes to comply, and the cost of taxes, which is measured by the total tax rate.
According to the report, titled "Paying Taxes 2008" the World Bank, IFC, and PricewaterhouseCoopers placed Jamaica among the 10 most difficult countries in the world to pay taxes.
Speaking with the RJR News Centre Monday morning Director of Public Relations at the Tax Administration Services Department Meris Haughton acknowledged the weaknesses in the system.
However she said her department is doing all it can to shore up the efficiency of the system.
"On the administrative side, we have noted some of the challenges and we have put in place measures to ease the payment of taxes in terms of how easy it is to pay taxes. We have put in place online payment facility, which makes it easier for persons to comply," she said.
In addition, Miss Haughton said there is a move underway to get the country's tax policies in line with technology:
"On the policy side of things, you are aware that there is a tax reform project that is currently underway, which would address some of these issues such in terms of the number of tax types, tax rates and things like that? With the passage of the E-Transaction Act, that has been passed, the regulations are now being drafted and this will make it even easier for persons to file, because as it stands now, they cannot file on line," said Meris Haughtion, Director of Public Relations at the Tax Administration Services Department.
The other countries on the worst ten list are Panama, Mauritania, Bolivia, the Gambia, Venezuela, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Ukraine, and Belarus.
This year's top 10 economies for ease of paying taxes featured the Maldives, Singapore, Hong Kong (China), United Arab Emirates, Oman, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, New Zealand, and Kiribati in that order.
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