TAX Administration Jamaica (TAJ) has confirmed that there is a shortage of 2013 motor vehicle registration stickers and this is affecting motorists seeking to register their vehicles up to the end of 2013.

According to a release from the TAJ, it is aware that the shortage is being experienced at some of its offices across the island.

“This is due to an unusually high demand by motorists opting to register or license their vehicles for six months, instead of for a year,” the TAJ said, pointing out that it is making efforts to reallocate stickers to offices where stocks are running out.

“In the event that a tax office is completely out of stock of the 2013 stickers, it will only affect persons registering for six months. However, an alternate measure has been put in place to allow such persons to register their vehicle for seven months on a pro-rated basis,” the TAJ explained.

The agency said it apologises for the inconvenience to taxpayers licensing their motor vehicles during the month of June, as the situation is expected to ease in July with the new six-month registrations running into January 2014 for which ample supplies of stickers are available.

“All efforts will be made to continually assess the situation and make adjustments, while keeping the public duly informed,” the agency said.

But this is only the latest in a series of problems affecting the TAJ.

A year ago, Senior Superintendent of Police in charge of traffic, Radcliffe Lewis, told a Senate select committee at Gordon House that corruption within the state agency was endemic, and suggested that the time had come to bring it to an end.

Since then the TAJ has introduced new measures to reduce incidents of fraud in the issuing of motor vehicle documents by the tax authorities, including streamlining its motor vehicle registration certificate (MVRC) system and phasing out hand-written motor vehicle certificates.

Since this year, a number of members of staff of the agency have been arrested following Revenue Protection Division (RPD) investigations into missing high value documents, including motor vehicle registration certificates, blank drivers licences (Teslins) and blank motor vehicle titles.

The RPD has since implored members of the public who may have information regarding the possession or use of motor vehicle documents suspected to be fraudulent, or information concerning suspected fraudulent activities as it relates to Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ), to contact the Revenue Protection Division at rpdinfo@mof.gov.jm or 1 – 888 – CALLRPD (225-5773).