KINGSTON, Jamaica — Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) yesterday reported an 88 per cent success rate in its tax recovery initiative, dubbed ‘Old Capital’, which targeted 133 “chronically delinquent” taxpayers in St Catherine.

The operation began earlier this month with support from the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA).

TAJ revealed that 117 of the targeted taxpayers either made full payment, entered into payment arrangements or are currently facing various enforcement actions to recover the outstanding amounts in short order.

However, TAJ said further investigation was conducted during the operation and 12 people were found to be possibly eligible for tax relief.

In the meantime, the tax authority said it issued garnishment notices to employers and tenants of 17 delinquent taxpayers, which means that amounts owing to the TAJ will be deducted from either the salaries or rent due to the taxpayer at the source to settle tax liabilities as the law allows.

In addition, 27 lien warning notices were issued to individuals, who were given until March 15, to settle their outstanding amounts in full or face the registration of a lien against their properties.

TAJ noted that six of the nine delinquent taxpayers who were arrested during the operation settled their outstanding taxes on the same day and the remaining three were given an order to appear before the parish court, after which they were granted bail.

Similar operations are to be conducted over the next several weeks in other parishes, TAJ disclosed.

It said these operations form part of the authority’s thrust to increase enforcement activities to protect the revenue by exercising options under the law, though the issuance of garnishment notices, seizure of assets or starting the procedure of registering a lien on properties owned by these taxpayers where applicable, to recover outstanding sums.