Finance Minister Audley Shaw said his Ministry will not be bullying taxpayers in a bid to improve revenue collection.
Instead he said the revamping of the Inland Revenue Department will bring about a more business-like approach.
Speaking to members of the Kiwanis Club of Kingston Tuesday, Mr. Shaw offered the reassurance that persons who are found to be delinquent will not be bullied into paying.
"Instead of going to threaten someone with debtors' jail, say to someone ‘let's have a payment plan, let's work out something, let's negotiate something' because people we understand have ups and downs in business and there are many slips and slides and we need to understand and appreciate that and work out the system within the context of the need for a healthy respect for our tax system," said Mr. Shaw.
In the meantime, Mr. Shaw said his ministry is on track with its revenue targets for the first quarter of the year.
He added that the ministry is looking at innovative methods of tax collection.
"I am very pleased to announce that my revenue targets are on stream we projected 12% increase in revenue in April over last April and I am proud to tell you that we achieved it and surpassed it by several hundred million dollars," he continued.
Instead he said the revamping of the Inland Revenue Department will bring about a more business-like approach.
Speaking to members of the Kiwanis Club of Kingston Tuesday, Mr. Shaw offered the reassurance that persons who are found to be delinquent will not be bullied into paying.
"Instead of going to threaten someone with debtors' jail, say to someone ‘let's have a payment plan, let's work out something, let's negotiate something' because people we understand have ups and downs in business and there are many slips and slides and we need to understand and appreciate that and work out the system within the context of the need for a healthy respect for our tax system," said Mr. Shaw.
In the meantime, Mr. Shaw said his ministry is on track with its revenue targets for the first quarter of the year.
He added that the ministry is looking at innovative methods of tax collection.
"I am very pleased to announce that my revenue targets are on stream we projected 12% increase in revenue in April over last April and I am proud to tell you that we achieved it and surpassed it by several hundred million dollars," he continued.
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