... St Elizabeth, Clarendon and Manchester the parishes with the lowest compliance levels

ST ELIZABETH, Clarendon and Manchester are the three parishes with the lowest levels of property tax compliance. Almost 60 per cent of property owners there do not pay their taxes, according to Calvert Thomas, director, revenue enhancement and resource mobilisation in the local government ministry. Calvert explained that delinquents will still be liable for prosecution under the compliance drive. “We will utilise all of the available options to us.” Speaking later Thursday to compliance officers from across the country, Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie said the $7.6 billion collected in property tax for 2016-2017 was the most in any financial year. That amount surpassed the target by $350 million.

SHORTCOMINGS IN SERVICES

Though admitting to shortcomings in the services for which property tax covers, he insisted that those in arrears will “not be allowed to get away” because “it is not fair”.

There is approximately $13.5 billion in property tax arrears. The figure is supported by the fact that 43 per cent of property owners in Jamaica do not pay their taxes, Finance Minister Audley Shaw disclosed earlier this month as he announced changes to the property tax regime.

On March 9 when he opened the 20172018 Budget Debate in Parliament, Shaw announced that the Government would launch a new project to collect outstanding property taxes.

McKenzie said he and Shaw would speak on the project, but added that to make up the shortfall, “every farthing that is available” will be needed.