Accountants Urged To Support Tax Initiatives

Acting Director General of the Tax Administration, Directorate, Mrs. Vinette Keene, has urged members of the Accountancy profession to support the initiatives of the tax authorities to provide an effective tax administration system.

In her keynote address at the ICAJ's 41st Anniversary Luncheon held at the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort on February 1, Mrs. Keene underscored the commitment of the tax authorities to improving the tax administration system in Jamaica in order to make it comparable with first world countries like United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and some European countries.

In its efforts to help improve the fiscal policy of the Government in support of economic growth and prosperity, she noted that during the 2006/2007 fiscal period the tax administration directorate will improve the collection of revenue as well as increase voluntary compliance by improving service delivery, education, information and enforcement activities. She added that efforts would also be made to leverage information technology for improved information and communication for both internal and external customers.

The increased enforcement activities will involve greater use of risk management and automated audit selection systems; more investigations and prosecution of fraud offenders (those who deliberately evade taxes by under-reporting and non-reporting of tax liabilities); more timely and sustained pursuit of accounts receivables and improvements in the legal framework to reduce tax evasion and avoidance schemes.

Mrs. Keene noted that the strategies for improving tax administration during the fiscal year were aimed at building a culture of tax compliance to broaden the tax base and reduce the overall tax burden individually. It will also result in the lowering of the compliance burden through the improved quality of service and ease of payment, she added.

"A lot of people who are reluctant to file returns and pay their taxes usually express that they do not feel that they are getting value for their money. But we need to pay our fair share of taxes due by law and then demand accountability through the democratic process available to the Jamaican citizenry to ensure that value for money is received in the form of social and economic services and infrastructure to support the necessary economic development for prosperity," she stated.

ICAJ President, Leighton McKnight, noted that as a profession, the ICAJ was committed to supporting the objectives of the tax administration. He encouraged ICAJ members to adhere to a professional code of ethics and in so doing, ensure that that they are compliant with the requirements of the tax authorities.

The 41st Anniversary Luncheon attracted a record number of 80 guests, which included the Custos of St. James, the Honourable Clarence Nelson, representatives from the Customs Department and Tax Administration Department, ICAJ members and their clients as well as members of the Montego Bay business community.



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