Auditor general concerned about refund policy of TAJ

The Auditor-General's Department, AGD, has raised concern about aspects of  the refund policy of  Tax Administration Jamaica, TAJ.

     The Department is taking issue with the refund of  just over one billion dollars in General Consumption Tax, GCT, to a large number of  delinquent taxpayers.

     In its annual report for the period ended March 2011, the AGD said 206 delinquent persons who owed just over one billion dollars in taxes received GCT refunds close to that amount.

     The arrears ranged from one to six years.

     TAJ reported that the practice in place is not to offset refunds with arrears unless requested by the taxpayer.

     The Auditor General's Department has advised TAJ that this arrangement may be fostering non-compliance with the tax law.

     It has therefore strongly recommended that the agency immediately review the practice in an effort to maximize tax revenue