TRN cards pile up

Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) is holding thousands of Taxpayer Registration Numbers (TRN) cards which have not been collected by the persons who applied for them.

The pile-up has caused the TAJ to institute a new regime for the printing of these cards.

"We have in the past appealed for individuals to collect their cards. So we have moved to a process that we will call print on demand. So unless somebody really needs it, they can request it at the relevant tax offices, but we haven't begun reprinting as yet, we are preparing to do so," TAJ spokeswoman Merris Haughton told The Sunday Gleaner last week .

She said persons who applied for TRN cards in the last 18 months would not have received them as the TAJ suspended the printing during the period.

"We are about to resume printing of cards on request," said Haughton.

However, some persons have claimed that they applied prior for their TRN cards more than 18 months ago and have been unable to collect them.

But Haughton said persons who applied prior to the suspension of printing should make enquiries at the relevant tax offices.

"Persons who require the cards, because if they were able to transact business without the card then there is no need for them to have the card, but upon request the cards will be produced," said Haughton.

She noted that printing the cards is costly, and while individuals were not asked to pay a fee for the cards, it was a significant cost absorbed by the TAJ.

"Persons misplace a card and they come and request another because it's free. They come and request another card, they misplace it, and they request another, and they don't necessarily need a card to transact business," she explained.