THE REGULATIONS, Legislation and Process Improvement (RLPI) Project, commonly known as the Regs and Legs programme, will be introducing a 'one stop shop' for the issuance of Tax Compliance Certificates (TCC) to expedite the process for the repayment of taxes.
Speaking at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) weekly 'Think Tank' session recently, Shirley Ann-Eaton, project manager for the RLPI, said the initiative was expected to come on stream in October.
She explained that the new strategy would allow individuals and business persons to send their applications directly to the Inland Revenue Department and to receive their TCCs.
Prior to this, persons were required to go to at least four different agencies - the National Housing Trust (NHT), the National Insurance Service (NIS), the HEART Trust and the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) to receive their compliance certificates.
Ms. Eaton told JIS News that the process of implementing the new procedure would be done in phases, starting with e-mail applications. She said that providing the applicant was compliant, he/she would get a response with 24 hours.
The second phase of the programme will entail the receipt of applications by telephone and fax, while walk-in customers will be dealt with during the third phase.
The initiative is expected to, among other things, reduce travelling costs, cut down on processing time and encourage more persons to pay their taxes.
Some 20,000 repeat applicants that are up to date with their statutory payments are expected to benefit from the move. First-time applicants will be required to visit the four agencies for a TCC interview.
The RLPI Project is a collaboration of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) and the Government of Jamaica (GoJ) through the office of the Minister of Development, and is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the New Economic Project.
The objective of the project is to examine areas of constraints faced by the business sector and to help remove these constraints.
Other initiatives under the Regulations, Legislation and Process Improvement (RLPI) Project will be unveiled at a press briefing to be held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston on September 2.
