As we approach the end of the month we turn our attention to the upcoming April 30 date for the payment of property tax for the 2013-2014 period, as well as the due date for filing and paying General Consumption Tax (GCT) for the month of March. Already there has been an increase in the number of persons visiting the tax offices to pay property tax and to file and pay their monthly GCT. But why go through the hassle of going to a tax office and waiting in line to carry out these transactions when there is a convenient, cost effective alternative?

The “Virtual Tax Office”, at www.jamaicatax-online.gov.jm, offers the ease and comfort of paying property tax and filing and paying GCT online from anywhere, at any time. In addition to property tax and GCT, payroll taxes, income tax and traffic ticket transactions may also be done online.

Paying online

To pay online taxpayers need to have a valid credit card, an email address and a Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN). If persons are using the service for the first time, they will need to log on to the Virtual Tax Office website at www.jamaicatax-online.gov.jm and create a user name and password.

Once this has been done the process for paying online is simple by just following six (6) steps:

1. Log on to website

2. Enter user name and password

3. Select the option to pay the taxes online and select the tax type you wish to pay and confirm tax details

4. Select add to ‘today’s tax total’. Select another tax to pay if required then pay using your credit card

5. View and print or write reference number for your records

6. Log off website

It should be noted that to pay property tax online, persons must have the valuation number(s) on hand. This can be found on the property tax notice of assessment, even an old one or on a previous property tax receipt. The valuation number may also be obtained by contacting TAJ’s Customer Care Centre. Paying property tax online also allows persons to adjust the amount due to make a half-yearly payment due April 1 and October 1 or quarterly payment due April 1, July 1, October 1 and January 1.

Filing online

To file online person need to have access to the filing section of the Virtual Tax Office. To do this, persons need to have on hand a login which is obtained through self-registration, the business name and address, the filing period and a password for filing.

To register for e-filing, persons may do so through the Customer Care Centre at 1-888-TAX-HELP (828-4357) or at the nearest tax office. They would need to download the Application for Electronic Filing Account Registration form from the Tax Administration Jamaica website, complete and submit it.

Once registered, persons would follow the steps below to file online:

1. Log into the website www.jamaicatax-online.gov.jm

2. Scroll down to Tax Return

3. Click ‘File Return’ and select the preferred ‘Tax Type’

4. Click retrieve

5. Click ‘Show Form’ from the File Tax Return – information screen

6. Enter relevant data on return

1. All fields highlighted must be completed

2. Check all boxes marked as mandatory

7. In Section (D) Declaration check the box whether or not documents were uploaded.

When filing returns, such as GCT returns, supporting documents can either be uploaded before or after completing the return. All attachments relating to payroll contributions should be saved in ASCII/Text Delimited format, while attachments for business related taxes, such as income tax (IT01, IT03, etc) should be saved in PDF format.

Once the information has been entered, the taxpayer would then electronically sign the return and submit the form. Once the process is complete a confirmation message will be displayed, showing reference number and an option to print the return.

The Talking Tax series is prepared by the Communications Unit of Tax Administration Jamaica to guide the public on their rights and obligations. To get additional information on this or any other tax matter, persons may contact 1-888-TAX-HELP (829-4357) or www.jamaicatax.gov.jm.