'We hear your cries' - Government alters tax plans

Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter

BRANDING THE Government as responsible and sensitive, Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips yesterday reversed a series of revenue measures which he had announced late last month.

"We have heard and we are prepared to listen. As a government led by my prime minister, our prime minister, we believe that we must be sensitive to the cries of people," Phillips said.

"We need the revenue, but most of all, we are trying to create an environment where people can grow their way and improve their own personal life by enterprise," he added.

Yesterday, as he closed the 2012-2013 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives, Phillips said the Government would no longer be imposing general consumption tax (GCT) on animal feed and raw foodstuff.

He also said the Ministry of Education is to identify specific textbooks which will be exempt from GCT.

It was the second accommodation to be made by the Government to allow an exemption from the tax on schoolbooks.

Following the announcement of the tax last month, Phillips said his ministry has been in discussions with the education ministry and was working on an arrangement "which would allow books needed for schools to be purchased through the Ministry of Education for the schools, so that children who are in need of those can get them without the GCT being applied".

Yesterday, the minister told Parliament the Government recognised that the book-selling industry "would be undermined were the bookshops to lose the sale of textbooks".

Unjustified increases

In the meantime, Phillips said despite the lowering of the standard rate of GCT from 17.5 to 16.5 per cent, there have been instances of unjustified price increases.

"Unfortunately, we are already witnessing situations where prices on some food items have been unjustifiably increased and this is outrageous," he said. "How can the lowering of GCT on chicken patties result in an increase in the price of chicken patties?"

All patties, with the exception of beef, were subject to GCT, but beef was brought into the GCT net last month.

Yesterday, Phillips questioned how a chicken patty that cost $115 last week now costs $120.

"We will be asking the Consumer Affairs Commission to focus its monitoring on some food items to ensure that the benefits are passed on to the consumers," the minister said.

He has called for consumers to reject unjustifiable price increases and report instances of such increases.

Phillips in May announced a tax of US7.5 cents per minute on all international calls terminating on the mobile network. However, Opposition Spokesman on Finance Audley Shaw expressed doubt that it could be collected. He argued that the tax was extraterritorial.

Phillips had also announced a J30 cents-per-minute tax on all domestic calls terminating on mobile and fixed line networks.

The minister yesterday announced that the modification would only apply to the domestic side. The changes will see a charge of five cents per minute on calls originating and terminating on a fixed network. There will also be a J40 cents-per-minute charge imposed on all calls originating in Jamaica.

Free minutes taxed

Phillips told Parliament that in the case where free minutes are offered by service providers, tax would not be applicable for these minutes up to 30 per cent of total call time - both free and billed.

The tax will not apply to calls to emergency numbers, calls to access voicemail, customer care or for balance enquiries.

Phillips has announced the imposition of addition stamp duty of 15 per cent on imported sheep and goat meat, ham, shoulders, and other cuts, bacon and yoghurt.

This is in addition to an existing five per cent tariff now charged at the port. The measure will take effect on July 1.

"There are commodities that can be produced here in Jamaica," Phillips said. He argued that "local goat farmers and pig farmers and others will be able to boost their production".

"If we continue, as a country, to import US$1 billion every year, we will always have a problem in finding foreign exchange," the finance minister said.

He argued that it was time for Jamaicans to "decline our taste and start eating what we grow and loving what we grow".

With regard to the asset tax, the amount payable by non-financial institutions with assertion value less than $50,000 is to be reduced from $10,000 to $5,000.

The Government is seeking to collect $19.3 billion through new revenue measures this fiscal year to help fund the $612-billion Budget.

The minister said the revenue loss through the revised measures would be made up through the additional stamp duties and reduction in waivers.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com

• PETER's CHANGES

1. JUNE 15 - Imposition of GCT on animal feed and raw foodstuff (excluding chicken) to be rescinded.
2. JUNE 15 - Concession to be granted for private booksellers to retail textbooks - identified by the Ministry of Education - exempt from GCT.
3. JULY 1- Additional stamp duty on meat of sheep or goats, fresh, chilled or frozen; hams, shoulders, and cuts thereof with bone in; bacon; yogurt
4. JULY 15 - Termination cost on domestic calls will be five cents per minute on calls originating in Jamaica; and 40 cents per minute tax to be imposed on all calls originating in Jamaica.;
5. JULY 15 - Tax liability for non-financial institutions with asset valued less than J$50,000 will be J$5,000 per annum.

CAPTION: Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips (standing) closes the 2012-2013 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives yesterday. Also pictured is Transport Minister Dr Omar Davies. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

CAPTION: Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller (right, background) and Opposition Leader Andrew Holness (left, background) unveil a plaque in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth in Parliament yesterday. Simpson Miller, Holness, Speaker of the House Michael Peart (right) and Senate President the Reverend Stanley Redwood paid tribute to The Queen during the sitting, which saw members of the Senate joining their colleagues from the Lower House. Looking on is British high commissioner to Jamaica, Howard Drake (second right), and other parliamentarians. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer