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THE Book Industry Association of Jamaica (BIAJ) has expressed disappointment over the non-removal of the General Consumption Tax (GCT) on books.
The BIAJ registered its displeasure in a statement yesterday following Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller's contribution to the Budget Debate at Gordon House in Kingston -- two weeks after Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips announced that books and other printing material would attract the 16.5 per cent GCT. The tax was to have taken effect last Friday but was delayed by a week to facilitate discussions between the association and the Ministry of Finance.
The BIAJ said that it was disappointed that the prime minister -- who stridently opposed tax on books when the previous Jamaica Labour Party Administration attempted to introduce it in 2009 -- did not take the opportunity to roll back the tax in her address to Parliament.
"We have been in extended conversation with the tax officials at the Ministry of Finance, explaining what has now shown to be the incorrect assumptions underlying their calculations, where only $28 million (from non-textbooks) will be realised in tax revenue," the BIAJ said.
"This is a (very) small fraction of what was originally budgeted and certainly not worth destroying any gains made in developing literacy, reading and the book trade, which may also end up in job losses," the association added.
The BIAJ has also taken issue with the compilation of a Master List of textbooks by the Ministry of Education.
"...The ministry... has embarked on an effort to create a cumbersome and problematic Master List of approved textbooks from early childhood to tertiary, that will determine which books are taxed.
"The BIAJ does not support the creation of this Master List, but is participating in the process to make the other stakeholders aware of the many challenges and disruptions that will arise, particularly in the upcoming back-to-school season," the association said.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1x0V6AZdp
The BIAJ registered its displeasure in a statement yesterday following Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller's contribution to the Budget Debate at Gordon House in Kingston -- two weeks after Finance Minister Dr Peter Phillips announced that books and other printing material would attract the 16.5 per cent GCT. The tax was to have taken effect last Friday but was delayed by a week to facilitate discussions between the association and the Ministry of Finance.
The BIAJ said that it was disappointed that the prime minister -- who stridently opposed tax on books when the previous Jamaica Labour Party Administration attempted to introduce it in 2009 -- did not take the opportunity to roll back the tax in her address to Parliament.
"We have been in extended conversation with the tax officials at the Ministry of Finance, explaining what has now shown to be the incorrect assumptions underlying their calculations, where only $28 million (from non-textbooks) will be realised in tax revenue," the BIAJ said.
"This is a (very) small fraction of what was originally budgeted and certainly not worth destroying any gains made in developing literacy, reading and the book trade, which may also end up in job losses," the association added.
The BIAJ has also taken issue with the compilation of a Master List of textbooks by the Ministry of Education.
"...The ministry... has embarked on an effort to create a cumbersome and problematic Master List of approved textbooks from early childhood to tertiary, that will determine which books are taxed.
"The BIAJ does not support the creation of this Master List, but is participating in the process to make the other stakeholders aware of the many challenges and disruptions that will arise, particularly in the upcoming back-to-school season," the association said.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1x0V6AZdp
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