Elephant Man cited for tax evasion

[Lazie]

Another dancehall artiste has landed in trouble with the Tax Administration Department.
Elephant Man, whose given name is O'Neil Bryan, was on Wednesday night prevented from leaving the island by immigration officials due to tax related matters.
It is understood that the artiste owes the government millions of dollars in unpaid taxes.

RJR News understands that the artiste and his entourage arrived at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St. James enroute to England when he was told that a stop order had been placed on him.
Members of his entourage were however allowed to leave the island.
When our News Centre contacted the Tax Administration Department, Director of Communications Meris Haughton declined to comment on the specific case involving Elephant Man.

However Miss Haughton noted that stop orders at the island's ports are being used as a strategy by the tax authorities as they intensify their drive to force delinquent tax payers to settle their arrears.

http://www.radiojamaica.com/content/view/26075/26/

[Mosiah]

Do yuh ting, Audley!

[Lazie]

Political victimization continues.

50 well-known Jamaicans face travel bans
JamaicaObserver.com
Thursday, March 25, 2010


THE tax office says that it has a list of 50 well-known Jamaicans, including entertainers, who are being served with travel bans due to non-payment of taxes.
As part of increased action against delinquent taxpayers beginning April 1, at the start of the new financial year, the office is using the 'stop orders' to to prevent them from travelling outside of Jamaica amongst other measures intended to increase compliance.
"Other enforcement actions, including committing delinquent taxpayers to jail, will be utilised during the upcoming fiscal year," said the office in a statement today.
The tax office said during the 2009/10 financial year it had taken 3,184 taxpayers to court in an effort to collect taxes amounting to $8.9 billion. A further 818 summons have been served on self-employed persons and organisations islandwide for non-payment.
Meantime, the examination of 746 payrolls has revealed that taxes were under reported by $221 million. Of this amount, $119 million has been collected with arrangements made for the liquidation of the balance.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lates...ce-travel-bans

[Islandman]

Sounds like an excellent way to approach tax evasion in JA to me.

[MdmeX]

Hope they go after the delinquents with their student loans. Some are facing hardship (I know), but many are just plain SELFISH & EVIL, as they are in a position to re-pay.