The city of Portmore, St. Catherine, is to get its own revenue centre soon. The revenue centre will have customs, a collectorate and other departments- all services under one roof.

According to Director of Public Relations for Taxpayer Support Services in the Tax Administration Service Department (TASD), Meris Haughton, “We are aiming to incorporate different areas of the tax system to ensure a smoother operation and flow.”  

Mayor of Portmore, Keith Hines has indicated that he is preparing for a fully integrated tax office in Portmore by the end of August.  “The people of Portmore and surrounding areas will have the convenience to pay their taxes in a good environment, hence I expect much more property tax to come in, especially since we will now have our own facility to do so,” Mayor Hines said.    

He pointed out that the revenue centre is a welcome addition to the Portmore Municipality and that much improvement is expected in the attitude of citizens towards taxation, adding that the new centre would encourage compliance. 

In his Budget Debate presentation in the House earlier this month, Minister of Finance and Public Service, Audley Shaw said that during this fiscal year, revenue collection centres islandwide would be upgraded. There are 28 collectorates islandwide, with a 29^th virtual collectorate, and four revenue centres strategically located in Montego Bay, Constant Spring, Spanish Town and May Pen. Two of collectorates, Savanna-la-Mar and Cross Roads are in line for upgrading.  

                           Source  : www.jis.jm