KINGSTON, Jamaica — Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) has temporarily suspended the collection of property tax and certificate of fitness fees at the Kingston and St Andrew revenue services centres.

TAJ said the one-week suspension, which takes effective today, April 30, comes in light of a surge of customers in these locations as a result of the temporary closure of the four tax offices in St Catherine, which is currently under lockdown.

The company also said there has been an increase in customers at the Cross Roads Tax Office, due to the St Catherine lockdown.

“This issue, when combined with the usually high end of month customer traffic, has resulted in increasing crowd. This presents a possible public health and safety risk in this already challenging time of the coronavirus pandemic impacting the island,” TAJ said in a statement.

As a result, people will not be able to conduct these transactions at either of the tax offices located at King Street or Constant Spring. Instead they will only be allowed to make payments for property tax and fitness fees online at www.jamaicatax.gov.jm for the duration of the suspension.

TAJ also remained customers that other transactions can be conducted online.

“Since April, 76 per cent of property tax and 84 per cent of certificate of fitness fees have been paid in line at tax offices, in spite of the service being available online,” TAJ noted.

The company said the situation will be reviewed next week, following the expected reopening of the Spanish Town, Portmore, Linstead, Old Harbour and Cross Roads Tax offices on Monday, May 4 and the public will be further advised.