KINGSTON, Jamaica — Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) says it has exceeded its first quarter collections target for the 2016/17 fiscal year.

In a news release Monday, TAJ said preliminary figures show that for the month of June, the revenue authority collected $25.7 billion, which was 12.2 per cent over the $22 billion target.

“The June performance continues the positive trend since the start of the fiscal year, which began in April that saw collections at 101 per cent of the target; this grew in May to 112 per cent. The collections for the period April to June, when averaged, stand at 108.5 per cent of the $61.9 billion target,” the TAJ said.

A review of the first quarter performance over the last six financial years, shows that the 2016/17 first quarter is the only one which reflects three consecutive months of over 100 per cent collections, TAJ continued.

“This positive outcome, so early in the financial year is as a result of the continuation of focused compliance strategies which began last financial year, and resulted in TAJ surpassing its annual target for 2015/16,” TAJ reasoned.

TAJ said compliance efforts included closer monitoring of arrears which was facilitated through the implementation of the Revenue Administration Information System; the mandating of several categories of taxpayers to file online; the introduction and application of a system generated penalty of $5,000 per month per return for late filing.

Additionally, TAJ said the compliance activities have been bolstered by the passing of several pieces of legislation, namely Access to Third Party Information and Garnishment.