JAMAICANS SHOULD be able, within two years, to make payments of General Consumption
Tax (GCT) and other taxes online, Phillip Paulwell, Industry, Commerce and Technology
Minister said yesterday.
This is one component of a project to be funded by
the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) which is aimed at helping Jamaica "solidify
its quest for the creation of an information society".
The Minister made the
announcement in the House of Representatives while making his contribution to
the 2002/2003 Sectoral Debate.
He said the IDB would provide funding to the
tune of US$20 million towards the project. Total project cost is US$29 million.
"We
expect formal approval shortly. The project will be implemented over two years,"
the Minister said.
He said the goals of the project were to increase productivity,
diversify exports and create employment in order to accelerate economic and social
development.
"The purpose of the project is to increase the use of ICT (information
and communications technology) in the private and public sectors through well-targeted
interventions," he said.
The proposed components of the project are the strengthening
of the Industry, Commerce and Technology Ministry; introducing E-government in
key agencies to improve efficiency in the public and private sectors; promoting
E-exports to encourage economic diversification and to create employment; and
increasing community access to the Internet in low income areas.
Once the necessary
legislative framework is in place, Jamaicans will be able to make payments to
the Jamaica Customs department electronically.
In the second phase, systems
will be put in place to allow full on-line payment of the General Consumption
Tax (GCT), Special Consumption Tax, Education Tax and Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Income
tax.
In the third phase of the project, taxes paid by the corporate sector and
self-employed individuals will go on-line as well as payments for the HEART Trust
fund used for vocational training.
A critical component of the project is to
enable the trade agencies such as JAMPRO and the Trade Board to provide the necessary
linkage to Customs and Inland Revenue departments and the Taxpayer Audit Assessment
Division. Apart from significantly reducing the time required to process transactions
it would help to increase transparency in Government, Mr. Paulwell said.
