KINGSTON, Jamaica — Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) says the St Andrew Revenue Service Centre located in Constant Spring, will partially reopen to the public on Monday, offering limited, non-cash services.

Opening hours have also been adjusted for operations to be conducted between 8:30 am and 2:00 pm.

TAJ said the interim arrangements were made following an assessment of the damage caused and restoration work required following a fire incident a week earlier.

Read: Fire forces closure of Constant Spring tax office

According to the TAJ, assessments have revealed that although the fire and water damage was contained to the basement section of the main building, the banking hall floor and upper floor were also impacted by smoke and soot. 

It said extensive work is therefore required, including specialised cleaning, air quality improvement, painting and the removal of hazardous material left in the aftermath of the fire incident.

TAJ said operations will take place from the lobby area, accommodating only non-cash transactions of credit cards, debit cards or cheques and will only offer limited services at this time, including:

Payment of driver’s licence renewal and examination fees;

Payment of police record fee;

Payment and submission of Monthly Payroll Statutory Deductions (S01) due June 14;

Payment and submission of the 2nd quarter Estimated Corporate Income Tax /Self- Employed Statutory Taxes due June 15; and

Pick-up of renewed driver’s licence and drop-off of driver’s licence renewal applications.

The TAJ noted that additional service support will be provided via a Mobile Tax Collection Unit, which will be parked on the premises, on Monday only, to accommodate property tax payments.

The location, however, will not be able to offer motor vehicle registration at this time.

It said the Large Taxpayer Office (LTO), located at the St Andrew Revenue Service Centre will remain closed but clients of the LTO may contact their assigned client relationship manager for any guidance.

Business people are encouraged to use TAJ’s online service option (accessible via www.jamaicatax.gov.jm) to accommodate the filing and payment of the monthly payroll statutory deductions and quarterly payments now due, the TAJ said.

The administration reminded customers that they may avail themselves of a range of online payments options, including making property tax payments, via National Commercial Bank (NCB), as NCB customers are able to use their online banking platform by adding TAJ as a Payee. Customers are also able to make various business related payments via the new TAJ direct funds transfer process which allows customers the ease of meeting their payment obligations using the ACH or RTGS transfer from their respective commercial banks to TAJ’s bank account, noting a direct funds transfer number in the memo or remarks field, it said.

Meanwhile, the TAJ said taxpayers who find it necessary to do business at a tax office, still have the option of visiting the Kingston or Cross Roads locations, with a bolstered staff complement to handle the expected increased customer traffic or any other tax office that’s convenient to them.

The tax authority said it will continue to provide further updates in the coming days on any further changes and other interim service measures to be implemented at the Constant Spring location.