Salt, syrup among items now to be taxed

[evanovitch]

Salt, syrup among items now to be taxed
Monday, 27 April 2009

The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service has finally released the revised list of items which will now attract General Consumption Tax (GCT).

<span style="font-weight: bold">As of Monday, a 16½% tax will be applied to computers, computer parts and printers as well as printed material excluding </span><span style="font-style: italic">newspapers and books which are for religious and educational purposes</span>.

The Finance Ministry noted that the Commissioner of the Inland Revenue Department will specify which materials are fro religious and educational purposes.

Also included on the revised list are <span style="font-weight: bold">fish, cock and noodle soup in aluminum sachets, syrup, motor spirit and lubricating oil which are sold for commercial fishing.</span>
<span style="font-weight: bold">Rolled oats and salt </span>which were on the original list will also attract GCT.

The Ministry also noted that <span style="font-weight: bold">imported services which are supplied by non-residents will be subject to GCT</span>.

[evanovitch]

Re: Salt, syrup among items now to be taxed

PNP YO groups protest against GCT
Monday, 27 April 2009
Members of the youth arm of the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) marched from Half Way Tree in St. Andrew to Jamaica House on Monday to demonstrate against the new tax measures announced last week.

The group's President, Damion Crawford, says the list of items that will now be taxed will present undue hardship on thousands of Jamaicans.

<span style="font-weight: bold">&quot;You cannot tax computers and book and not tax alcohol ... you cannot tax salt and syrup and not tax cigarettes ... that is not acceptable,&quot; </span>said Mr. Crawford.

According to the PNPYO, it will be presenting the Government with a list of proposals that would help the administration raise the money it needs to finance the budget instead of implementing the measures announced last week.

The Organisation is to give details of those proposals at a press briefing Monday afternoon.