NHT accepting applications for Contribution Amnesty Programme

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and registered charitable institutions facing financial hardships are being urged to submit applications under the National Housing Trust (NHT) Contribution Amnesty Programme.

The initiative aims to facilitate their recovery and offer relief from interest and penalties on outstanding contributions for eligible entities and will run through to March 2025.

Eligible organisations include those that employ 50 staff members or fewer or report annual earnings of less than $425 million.

Compliance manager for the NHT, Garth Evans, said that in providing this relief, the NHT is seeking to foster stability and support the economic recovery of MSMEs and charitable organisations navigating challenges.

“We would implore all these eligible businesses to reach out to us and try to see how best you can be accommodated over the next nine months with some relief and make it easier for you to become compliant,” Evans urged.

Entities can access an application form from compliance inspectors in their region or by contacting the NHT’s Compliance Department directly at: compliance@nht.gov.jm.

The completed application forms must then be submitted through the NHT Online platform.

Evans explained that the amnesty is structured in three phases – providing early settlement incentives until September 30, mid-term relief from October 1 to December 31, and late settlement between January and March 2025.

He added that the benefits vary under each stage and include the NHT waiving all penalty interest on both employee and employer contributions, and a 20-per-cent discount on outstanding employer contribution sums settled during the first period.

Meanwhile, mid-term relief involves the waiver of all penalty interest on employee and employer contributions for settlements made in October to December.

Penalty interest on employer contributions will be waived for settlements made in the first quarter of 2025.

“When we bring entities to the point of compliance … we will continue to work with them to ensure that they do not fall back to where they are coming from,” Evans said, while stressing that the initiative also aims to encourage regularisation with the NHT.

The contribution amnesty underscores the NHT’s commitment to inclusive growth and economic resilience, reflecting efforts to mitigate financial pressures faced by vital sectors of the economy.

Eligible entities are encouraged to contact the NHT for more information on the contribution amnesty programme.