Home > Access to Incentives

Access To Incentives

Customs Tariff:
Manufacturers who are certified for Productive Input Relief (PIR) are qualified for the relief of Customs Duty on raw materials or intermediate goods, packaging materials, consumables and capital equipment and machinery (including spare parts)

Goods which are not eligible for relief are:
  1. Goods listed in Part 1 of the Fourth Schedule (The Customs Act, The Customs Tariff Amendment No 2 & 3 Resolution, 2013).
  2. Goods listed in Part IV of the Third Schedule.
  3. Goods which the Commissioner is satisfied with can be obtained in adequate supplies locally or regionally.

Accessing Relief of Customs Tariff Process

  1. Complete and submit the Manufacturer Status Application Form to the Industry Division of the Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce (MIIC).
  2. Submit along with application a copy of the company’s updated Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC) letter and Tax Validation Certificate and Certificate of Incorporation or Business Registration. Also, a description of the Production Process via a flowchart diagram is required for each product.
  3. Upon receipt of your documentation MIIC will conduct a verification assessment, including a site inspection which may also be joined by the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA).
  4. The JCA will decide if the company qualifies for Productive Input Relief.
  5. The JCA will issue a letter to the company after a determination is made.

Please contact JMEA Secretariat for application form and checklist
Contact #-1-876-922-8880-3
Email Address: jmea@jmea.org


Duration of Manufacturing Status

  1. Complete and submit the Manufacturer Status Application Form to the Industry Division of the Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce (MIIC).
  2. Submit along with application a copy of the company’s updated Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC) letter and Tax Validation Certificate and Certificate of Incorporation or Business Registration. Also, a description of the Production Process via a flowchart diagram is required for each product.
  3. Upon receipt of your documentation MIIC will conduct a verification assessment, including a site inspection which may also be joined by the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA).
  4. The JCA will decide if the company qualifies for Productive Input Relief.
  5. The JCA will issue a letter to the company after a determination is made.

Please contact JMEA Secretariat for application form and checklist
Contact #-1-876-922-8880-3
Email Address: jmea@jmea.org

Manufacturing Status Brochure


Deferment of General Consumption Tax (GCT)

Under the GCT Amendment Act (effective October 2014) manufacturers benefit from the deferment of the payment of GCT at the ports on raw materials, intermediate goods, machinery spare parts, consumables, capital equipment and machinery (spare parts)/, and packaging materials.

Conditions

  1. Manufacturers/Producers involved in making taxable goods or involved in mixed activities (producers of both exempt and taxable goods) are allowed to import without the payment of GCT on items that would normally qualify under the Productive Inputs Relief (PIR) of the Fiscal Incentives Act. You are, however, required to account for the GCT when you file your GCT returns by the last working day of the month following the importation of the item (s).
  2. Manufacturers/Producers who are involved exclusively in making exempt goods are required to pay GCT on their imports that are used in the manufacturing process. However, you will be allowed a refund of the GCT paid on items that would qualify under the PIR when you file your GCT returns.
  3. Packaging materials purchased locally by registered taxpayers of taxable goods will qualify for the deferment of General Consumption Tax (GCT). Manufacturers are, however, required to account for the GCT when filing the GCT returns by the last working day of the month following the purchase of the items.
  4. Manufacturers of exempt goods will pay the GCT upfront and may claim a refund when filing the GCT returns.
  5. New Investor: New Investor(s) are required to apply as a Registered Taxpayer to benefit from the deferment.

Accessing Deferment of General Consumption Tax

An application must be made to the Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ). See contact information below.

Tax Administration Jamaica
Contact: Ms. Stephanie Chin
Email: stephaniechin@taj.giv.jm
191 Constant Spring Road Kingston 8
Phone Number: 969-0000 \ 876-545-0421

New GCT Deferment Application


Relief of Additional Stamp Duty

Goods which are imported for use solely as raw materials for manufacturing qualify for the relief of stamp duty. The Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce (MIIC) is to be contacted to ascertain the items that do not qualify.


Discount on Customs Administrative Fee (CAF)

Manufacturers qualify for a 50% discount on administrative fees for full containers and processing fees for the importation of raw materials, intermediate goods and packaging.


Additional Fiscal Incentives

Under the Fiscal Incentives Act, other benefits for the sector include:

  1. Employment Tax Credit
  2. Capital Allowances

Suspension of the Common External Tariff

An importer of any goods – whether an input or a final product – desirous of obtaining a change or the temporary suspension of a rate of import duty under the Common External Tariff (CET), should submit a request to the Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce (MIIC) with the relevant information:

  1. The name and address of the requesting individual or firm.
  2. The Tariff heading number(s) and precise description of the goods together with all relevant technical specification.
  3. The quantity and estimated value of the goods that are required.
  4. The rate(s) of import duty being applied currently in the particular Member State.
  5. The rate of import duty proposed in lieu of the current rate.
  6. Where a suspension of the current rate is requested, the proposed duration of the suspension; (Minimum 3 months / Maximum 12 months)
  7. The reasons for the request for a change or a suspension of the rate that is being applied in the Member State along with the name(s) of the Member State(s) from which supplies were previously obtained.
  8. The efforts that have been made to source the product(s) from within the Common Market, and the result of those efforts.

Contact Info:

Ministry of Industry Investment & Commerce (MIIC)
Phone: (876) 968-7116 or 968-8627
Email: industry@miic.gov.jm Website: www.miic.gov.jm
Address: 4 St. Lucia Ave, Kingston 5

Agricultural Sector Incentives

Before receiving any agricultural incentive, an entity or individual must be registered with the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) Under the Fiscal Incentives (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 and guidelines by the Ministry of Finance & the Public Service, an entity/farmer may obtain Approved Farming Enterprise status which has two levels, Productive Inputs Relief (PIR) and Income Tax Relief.

Process

Completion of the relevant forms along with the relevant supporting documents should be submitted to RADA.

  1. The completed application form must be accompanied by the following: A Current Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC) (With proof of expiration date). Submissions of Proforma Invoice(s) for tools and equipment are optional.
  2. After the visit by RADA to verify the information on the documents, if eligible, the documents are then submitted to the Ministry.
  3. A recommendation is then made by the Ministry to the Jamaica Customs Agency.
  4. The approval for the PIR benefit requires that the Commissioner of Customs be satisfied that the items imported are to be used in primary production/approved farming activity. The JCA will conduct their verification as well and the farmer is informed by the Agency if he/she is a beneficiary of the incentive.
  5. The approval can be for a period of three (3) months, six (6) months, one (1) year or three (3) years.
  6. Each recommendation made by the Ministry is processed case by case as the items must be proven to be inputs for primary production for agricultural activities as stipulated in the Act
  7. The reasons for the request for a change or a suspension of the rate that is being applied in the Member State along with the name(s) of the Member State(s) from which supplies were previously obtained.
  8. The efforts that have been made to source the product(s) from within the Common Market, and the result of those efforts.

Incentives

  1. Productive Input Relief

    2. Application Form PIR Income Tax

  2. Duty Concession

    3. This is utilized by registered farmers requesting permission to import pickups, at a concessionary tax rate for use solely in connection with an approved agricultural activity. Twenty percent (20%) duty concession on farm vehicles (trucks commonly known as pick-ups) can be accessed.

    Duty Concession_Application_Form_2015Motor Vehicle Concession Criteria

The Urban Renewal Tax Relief

Completion of the relevant forms along with the relevant supporting documents should be submitted to RADA.

Application Factors

  1. Job creation
  2. Enhancement of visual cityscape – e.g., urban design, landscape etc.
  3. Regeneration of property
  4. Creation or restoration of housing accommodation
  5. Enhancement of the environment for existing and new businesses
  6. Improvement of architectural facade
  7. Conformity to existing building structures

Eligibility

  1. Proof of payment of all tax returns (presentation of a valid Tax Compliance Certificate)
  2. Approval from the local planning authority

The Process

Applicants will be required to submit an application form completed in duplicate along with the requisite support information (listed below). Please note that application forms are available at the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) offices at 12 Ocean Boulevard, Kingston.

Urban Renewal Tax Relief Act1995Tax Incentive Programme (Application Process and Guidelines)Application for Declaration as Approved Developer


Film and Music Industry

Through the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment & Sport, entities within the Film and Music Industry can benefit from the following incentives:

  1. Free Movement
  2. Productive Input Relief (PIR)
  3. Fiscal Incentives
  4. Sponsorship
  5. Artiste Ambassador Programme

Entertainment Registry BrochureE-Registry FAQ Sheet

Contact Info:

The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment & Sport
4-6 Trafalgar Road, Kingston 5
Email: registry@mcges.gov.jm
Call: (876) 978-7654
Website: https://mcges.gov.jm/


Applying for Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Status

As part of the Global Logistics Hub Initiative (GLHI), the Government of Jamaica has implemented the Special Economic Zones (SEZs), a geographical zone designated for economic activity offering simple and efficient business regulations and procedures to investors. The SEZ zones are essentially an upgrading of the rigid free zone regime, the new SEZ will adopt international standards and growth trends for zone development.

The Benefits of the Special Economic Zones include:

  1. Competitive Tax and Incentives regime for the SEZ
  2. Exemption from dividend tax for shareholders resident abroad.
  3. Low Corporate Income Tax rate of 12.5% on profits (i.e., half of that applicable to ordinary unregulated companies). This rate can be effectively reduced to approximately 7.5% by the following tax credits
  4. Tax free rental income.
  5. As a further income tax relief, the developer and occupant are exempt from tax on the income from the rental of property in the SEZ, unless the tenant is a connected party.
  6. Goods imported into the SEZ by developers or occupants are exempt from customs duty (CET), stamp duty and GCT.
  7. Local purchases of goods and services by developers or occupants, from local suppliers, located outside of the SEZ, are zero-rated. That is, no GCT is to be paid on these purchases

Accessing Special Economic Zone Status

All interested parties are invited to complete the registration form which may be requested via email at info@jseza.com or you may schedule an appointment with the JSEZA, and a representative will be assigned to assist you with completing the documentation.

Contact Info:

Visit the Jamaica Special Economic Zone website at
https://www.jseza.com/

Access to The Special Economic Zones Act 2016 No. 7
The Special Economic Zones Act 2016 No. 7

JOIN
NOW ADVERTISE
WITH US