Tax Offices all over the island will be open later to facilitate payments

Where can I easily get Tax forms?

Taxpayers have the convenience of downloading Income Tax Forms from the website www.jamaicatax.gov.jm. These forms may be completed electronically and then printed and signed for filing. Or persons may visit any of the 29 Tax Offices island wide to get the relevant forms.

Are there any Special Programmes to assist Small Business Operators to prepare their Income tax Returns?

Yes. The Tax Administration began operating its annual Special Taxpayer Service Programme on January 15. The programme is aimed at assisting small business operators, professionals and self-employed persons to complete and file their income tax returns, to meet the March 15 deadline.

The eight-week programme, has over two hundred (200) free sessions scheduled right across the island at off-site locations – such as – town halls, school auditoriums, church halls, courthouses, and throughout the network of 29 Tax Offices. In the Corporate area for example, special “service sites” will be set up the St. Andrew, Cross Roads and King Street Tax Offices at scheduled times during the week March 8 – 12. Details of the locations and times scheduled island wide are available by contacting the Tax Administration Customer Care Centre at 1-888-TAX-HELP or the local Tax Office or visiting the website www.jamaicatax.gov.jm.

Taxpayers wishing to utilize the free service should take along their business documents such as Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN), bank statements, invoices, receipts, sales records and any other records used in their business operations.

Is there a number that Persons can call to get Tax Advice?

Yes. Persons needing tax advice may call the Tax Administration Customer Care Centre at 1-888-TAX-HELP (1-888-829-4357) or email queries to taxhelp@tasd.gov.jm. Agents are available to assist persons to understand their rights and responsibilities and to guide them through the Income Tax filing process. The service operates from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Monday to Thursday and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday.

Are there alternative filing and payment options?

The Tax Administration has electronic “drop boxes” available at six (6) of the busiest locations. Therefore persons paying by cheque or simply filing a return may use the electronic drop box facility at any of the following tax offices:

• King Street
• Constant Spring
• Cross Roads
• Spanish Town
• Mandeville
• Montego Bay

Persons should also remember that the Portmore Tax Office opens on a Saturday from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. They may use this location if they unable to transact business during the week at their regular tax office.
Additionally, the Tax Administration is working with FISCAL Services Ltd to finalise plans to introduce electronic filing of income tax returns by the March 15 due date. This will allow self-employed persons and companies to file and pay income tax from the convenience of their home or office, 24hrs daily via the “Virtual” Tax Office at www.jamaicatax-online.gov.jm, once they are duly registered to use the online filing option.

Will the Tax Offices be opening later?

To meet the demands of the taxpaying public, fourteen (14) of the busiest tax offices will open one hour later on the due date, Monday, March 15. The tax offices which will remain open to the public until 5:00 pm are:

• 1. Kingston
• Constant Spring
• Cross Roads
• Mandeville
• May Pen
• Spanish Town
• Portmore
• Montego Bay
• Savanna-La-Mar
• Morant Bay
• Brown’s Town
• St. Ann’s Bay
• Falmouth
• Lucea

All other Tax Offices will operate their regular schedule.

With the various programmes in place to assist taxpayers, thereby making it easier to pay, taxpayers are urged to submit their final return for 2009 and estimated return for 2010, as well as make payments to meet the March 15 Income Tax deadline.

Via – Jamaica Tax Administration

Minister of State in the Ministry of Energy and Mining, Hon. Laurence Broderick, who spoke at the launch, held at the Geological Society, emphasized that low energy cost is key to the country’s industrial development, so the programme to develop and expand renewable energy sources would continue at full speed.

The State Minister also participated in a seminar, under the theme: ‘New Prospects and New Opportunities’, which was put on by the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica and Jamaica Trade and Invest.

The seminar was held to support the island’s second formal licensing round for oil and gas exploration.

Consultant to the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ), Dr. Raymond Wright, said while the data for oil and gas exploration in Jamaica was positive, any benefits would come in the long term.

“We are talking about anything that could happen in 2015 and beyond. It’s not next year, so we are really planning for the long term future,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Broderick said that while renewable energy supplies would not account for more than 20 per cent of the country’s overall energy needs, there is an on-going programme to develop them.

“We have a couple of wind farms and we are seeking to establish more. With solar, we have not moved as fast because of the cost, but there are a number of companies that have expressed an interest and the pilot projects in hospitals are going well,” he pointed out.

Via – JIS

The Logos Hope has been in Montego bay since January 20th and will travel to Kingston where it will be docked at the  Caribbean Cement Company at Rockfort from February 17th – March 23rd 2010.

Jamaicans are invited to visit the ship to purchase books that  cover a wide range of subjects, such as science, sports, hobbies, cookery, the arts, philosophy, medicine and children’s books, as well as faith and life. The books have been carefully chosen to be of interest to every member of the family, and with the educational, social and moral needs of the local community in mind. Books are on offer at a fraction of their retail value, while in certain ports, books are also donated.

Visit the Logos Hope website at logoshope.org.

Misty Bliss is a traditional, Jamaican cultural festival that celebrates mountain pleasures and treasures. Patrons will experience the cool, mist forest of the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, Maroon culture and cuisine while children can engage in Ring Games and environmental education seminars. This event is scheduled to be held on Sunday, 2010 February 28.

For more information please call 920-8278-9

With the venue transformed into a huge Market Place, representative of Jamaican/African culture featuring exquisite garments, books, jewelry and craft, as with any market it is abuzz with activities throughout the day.

Dine on traditional food such as dookunu brought from Ghana with the same name, puddings, fried fish and bammy or vegetarian from raw to ital. You are invited to dance to the rhythms of the Kumina drums brought to our shores from the Congo, the Mento band our own indigenous folk music, let loose at the African Dance Party hosted by Mutabaruka with his vast repertoire of rhythms from the continent, participate in Nyabinghi chanting with Rastafarians or join the children as they playfully follow closely behind the Jonkunoo band with its main character Pitchy Patchy which traveled with us from West Africa.

The spoken word is expressed through ourstories of that cunning spider Ananse also from West Africa as told by Story teller extraordinaire Amina Blackwood-Meeks along with resident Poets Royal African Soldiers and their friends and in an Open Mike segment where participants are free to express themselves. Each year there is a Main Attraction and at sunset patrons are invited to gather, where homage is paid to the ancestors and offerings are placed on the Ancestral Raft before it is sent floating into the Caribbean Sea.

For more information visit the official Fi Wi Sinting website at fiwisinting.com

Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao

“As the international financial crisis has posed severe impact on China and the Caribbean states, we should help each other, enhance cooperation, and jointly cope with challenges so as to consistently boost our friendly ties,” Wen said.

China’s trade with Jamaica slipped by some 30 percent to 219 million U.S. dollars last year. However, China’s imports from Jamaica nearly tripled year on year, according to Chinese custom figures.

Golding hailed Jamaica-China exchanges and cooperation in politics, economy and humanitarian fields. He pledged to stick to the one-China policy and voiced hope to expand trade and economic ties, as well as consultation on international affairs, with China.

Golding appreciated China’s responsible attitude in tackling climate change and pledged to further cooperation with China. Golding arrived in Beijing Monday. During his five-day trip, Golding is also expected to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Vice President Xi Jinping.

Read More – Xinhua

Overview of of some of the activities planed

• National and regional church services to make the start of Earthquake Awareness Week
• Earthquake Awareness supplements in Major local newspaper
• Earthquake awareness days and schools and places of business
• Tsunami Workshop for tourism sector

Jamaica’s location along the northern margin of the Caribbean Plate and the presence of very active faults on the island makes it very vulnerable to earthquakes. For more information visit the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management website at ODPEM.org.jm.

Usain Bolt and Sanya Richards after receiving their awards

Jamaican born Sanya Richards of the United States was the winner of the female World Athlete of the Year award for 2009 for her continued domination of the 400m race to win at all six Golden League meetings in Europe to claim a share of the $1 million jackpot.

Difficult year for Bolt after Car crash

“It’s been an amazing year for me,” said Bolt, whose training was hampered after he injured his foot when he crashed his car in April. “I had to refocus my goals and put in a lot of hard work. I did extremely well and I’m proud of myself.”

HELP Jamaica which stands for Help Establish Library Projects in Jamaica has created a limited quantity 2010 calendar which will be sold for a small fee with the proceeds going to the projects the organization supports.

Calendar Description

Put Jamaica in sight! Be reminded on the beautiful island everyday by some exceptional photos displaying the many facets of Jamaica. Great shots from eight parishes – different countryside, Kingston, charismatic people, promising school kids, fishermen, churches and more photos from international photographers.

To get your copy of the calendar and support a worthy cause visit Help Jamaica’s Charity shop and order yours while stocks last.

Map of Jamaica

Jamaica has over 300 thousand landlines and 2.5 million cellphone users. About half of Jamaica’s population of 2.8 million people have access to the internet at home, at work, at school or through their mobile phones which is one of the highest in the region.

Access to the internet is quickly spreading out from urban centers such and Kingston, Spanish Town and Montego Bay and becoming more accessible in the interior and more rural areas of the island.

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