KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – The Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA) is reporting net revenue of $44.136 billion, for the first quarter of the 2016/17 financial year (April to June).

This they say, surpassed their  $2.183 billion or 5.2 per cent target.

Chief Executive Officer of the JCA, Major (Ret’d) Richard Reese, made the disclosure during a press briefing held at the agency’s head office, New Port East, today.

He noted that when compared to the first quarter of financial year 2015/16, the JCA recorded growth in net revenue collection by 13 per cent or $5.120 billion, up from $39.016 billion in 2015. 

 He informed that major tax items, including Import Duty, General Consumption Tax (GCT) and Special Consumption Tax (SCT) performed positively relative to the targets for the quarter and prior year. 

“At the end of June, collection in respect of Import Duty was 5.4 per cent above the target, while General Consumption Tax and Special Consumption Tax were 9.35 per cent and eight per cent, respectively, above the targeted collection,” Major Reese said.

The Chief Executive Officer noted that relative to the previous year, Import Duty revenue grew by 29 per cent, General Consumption Tax grew by 15 per cent and Special Consumption Tax grew by seven per cent.

In addition, non-tax revenue for the fiscal period totalled $3.526 billion and was $109 million or three per cent above the targeted collection of $3.417 billion. 

Major Reese informed that growth in the non-tax revenue relative to the previous fiscal period was five per cent or $155.8 million. 

Some of the revenue growth drivers include automotive diesel oil, motor spirits (unleaded 87 and 90), cigarettes, and motor vehicles. 

Other significant contributors include cellular phones, tiles, bus and car tyres, motor-vehicle parts and accessories, communication apparatus, lubricating oils, televisions and refrigerators.

Meanwhile, Major Reese said approximately 230 breaches spanning 11 sections of the Customs Act were detected in the first quarter of fiscal year 2016/17. 

He informed that 244 breaches were uncovered in the first quarter of financial year 2015/16. These, he said, ranged from unauthorised interference with cargo while in or being conveyed between ports, customs area, container station or inspection site.

Other breaches include unauthorised interference with goods privately warehoused; failure to produce warehoused goods on request by an officer; and unlawful removal or embezzlement of warehoused goods, false declaration, concealment, and importation of goods without the required permits.

“Permit breaches accounted for 75 per cent of the infractions committed in the first quarter of financial year 2016/17.  False declaration to the Commissioner of Customs accounted for 19 per cent of the breaches,” Major Reese said.

He added that revenues collected in respect of fines and forfeitures amounted to $22.7 million and accounted for one per cent of the non-tax revenue for April-June, 2016.