Tax authority launches aggressive enforcement

Following two joint operations with the Portmore and St. Catherine Municipal Corporations, conducted June of last year, the tax authority is now taking decisive legal and financial action against those who failed to settle their outstanding balances or enter into payment arrangements by February 2026.

The initial operations focused on Phoenix Park Village and Caribbean Estate in Portmore, as well as Green Acres, Frenchman Heights, Angel Estates, and Angel Grove in Spanish Town.

To date, TAJ has served more than 200 garnishment notices on financial institutions and employers of delinquent property owners. The authority projects that an additional 150 garnishment notices will be served by the end of April 2026 as enforcement efforts continue to intensify.

The enforcement phase, originally scheduled to begin earlier, was temporarily delayed due to the passage of Hurricane Melissa, which impacted operational timelines.

In a significant escalation, TAJ is now actively pursuing the seizure of moveable assets belonging to delinquent taxpayers. The authority is also placing liens on properties and initiating legal proceedings, with more than 50 property owners expected to be brought before the courts.

“These measures are a necessary step to improve property tax compliance and address longstanding arrears within the targeted communities,” TAJ stated in its release.

The tax authority is urging residents within the affected communities who have outstanding property tax liabilities — and have not yet made arrangements — to visit their nearest tax office immediately. Officials stress that failure to take the necessary steps to regularise outstanding balances will result in enforcement action being taken without further notice.