KINGSTON, Jamaica — Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) has announced that it will on Monday reopen its branches that were affected by the St Catherine lockdown, which was lifted today.

TAJ said that the Spanish Town, Portmore, Linstead, Old Harbour and Cross Roads locations will reopen following the required cleaning, delivery of supplies and other necessary activities.

The agency said it will continue the suspension of in-branch collections of property tax and certificate of fitness fees at the Kingston and St Andrew revenue service centres, until Wednesday, May 6.

Customers are being urged to make use of its online services at www.jamaicatax.gov.jm, to make these payments among others, to ease overcrowding at tax offices during the COVID-19 crisis.

TAJ also reminded that all tax offices and the stamp office are open to the public 8:30 am – 2:00 pm, Mondays to Fridays, while all other business operations end at 3:00 pm.

This is to accommodate end of day activities to include balancing off, cleaning and sanitization of office spaces, to allow customers, staff and contract cleaners to be home before the start of the 6:00 pm island wide curfew, the agency said.

Additionally, taxpayers are also reminded that the TAJ has implemented several measures in keeping with Government’s public health and safety guidelines, to include:

• Limiting the number of customers in tax offices.

• Enforcing physical distancing of six feet.

• Enforcing the mandatory wearing of facial masks.

• Providing hand sanitisation/alcohol for customers and staff.

• Providing priority service to senior citizens and uniformed officers.

• Reducing the number of staff working in tax offices on any given day through the implementation of rotation and work from home protocols.

• Implementing six feet distancing of work stations hence reduced number of staff daily.

“The Tax Authority asks for the public’s cooperation and understanding in adherence to the directives of the Government, as well as the staff and security personnel at its locations. These are intended to be in the best interest of all staff and customers’ health and safety.”