50 well-known Jamaicans face travel bans

THE tax office says that it has a list of 50 well-known Jamaicans, including entertainers, who are being served with travel bans due to non-payment of taxes.

As part of increased action against delinquent taxpayers beginning April 1, at the start of the new financial year, the office is using the 'stop orders' to to prevent them from travelling outside of Jamaica amongst other measures intended to increase compliance.

"Other enforcement actions, including committing delinquent taxpayers to jail, will be utilised during the upcoming fiscal year," said the office in a statement today.

The tax office said during the 2009/10 financial year it had taken 3,184 taxpayers to court in an effort to collect taxes amounting to $8.9 billion. A further 818 summons have been served on self-employed persons and organisations islandwide for non-payment.

Meantime, the examination of 746 payrolls has revealed that taxes were under reported by $221 million. Of this amount, $119 million has been collected with arrangements made for the liquidation of the balance