Debate on amendments to GCT Act to continue in Parliament

Debate is to get underway today in the House of Representatives on a Bill to amend the GCT Act. The debate was slated to start in July but was delayed.The main objectives of  the reform of  the GCT Act are to broaden the tax base and improve its administration. In addition to the GCT refund clause for manufacturers, the Bill is to be amended to, among other things, make it easier for the State to collect duties that have been levied on imported services such as consultancy.                         

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Debate on amendments to GCT Act to continue in Parliament

Opposition not satisfied with amendments to tax bills

The opposition Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) spokesman on Finance Audley Shaw, remains unsatisfied with the amendments that have been made to the two tax Bills which were approved by the House of Representatives earlier this week.

A wave of concern erupted from various quarters about the bills, because of the far-reaching powers it proposed to grant to the tax authorities.

These include the power to automatically place a lien on property  owned by delinquent taxpayers, and to institute garnishee proceedings.

However on Friday, the Finance Ministry said he amendment to ensure that no lien could be registered without a court order would be removed.

But Shaw is arguing that the power to garnish funds is also one that should only be conducted after the court’s adjudication process.  

Shaw also says the opposition will not backing down from conducting a review on the constitutionality of the bills and will not rule out court action to get the matter resolved.

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Opposition not satisfied with amendments to tax bills