The new tax imposed, sounds reasonable enough, hopefully it will be put to good use such as improving our roads and supplying us with a consistent water supply. 
New Guest Accommodation Room Tax (RT01) Due Date Approaches

Published on Monday, 29 October 2012
With just a few days remaining before the due date for the filing and payment of the new Guest Room Accommodation Tax (GART), Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) is reminding all operators of guest accommodations that the GART Return (RT01) becomes due on Wednesday October 31, 2012.                                                                                
Operators are required to file and pay the tax using the prescribed RT01 Form which is available on TAJ’s website at www.jamaicatax.gov.jm. Persons may also obtain additional information by visiting the GART Information hub also located on the administration’s website.

The “room tax”, which was introduced as part of the Government’s revenue measures for the 2012 – 2013 fiscal year, requires that all operators of guest accommodations must pay the new room tax for each night or occasion that a room is occupied. The rates vary based on the number of rooms operated at the property, as follows:


1 to 50 rooms -  US$1
51 to 100 rooms - US$2
101 rooms and over - US$4

Tax Administration Jamaica has been staging a series of sensitisation sessions across the island to inform operators of hotels, villas and other guest accommodations about the new measure.  However, persons needing additional information about preparing and filing the new GART to meet the monthly due date, may contact their local tax office or speak with TAJ’s customer care agents at 1-888-TAX-HELP (829-4357) or email queries to taxhelp@taj.gov.jm.



http://www.jamaicatax.gov.jm/index.php/2012-05-11-17-45-51/news-releases/43-pres s-release/172-new-guest-accommodation-room-tax-rt01-due-date-approaches



Sarah Todd

Miss Todd, if it's put to good use as you suggest it's not a high price to pay. If it's one more thing accommodations owners need to absorb without a positive return, it will feel like a big ripoff. I rent rooms and I can't raise my rates as fast as all the others costs are going up. JPS is the worst thing we are dealing with in terms of unsubstantiated price increases.

We get charged more for everything but we can't possibly raise our rates to break even. I cringe at any new taxes no matter how innocent they sound.

Room taxes, electric rate increases, higher food costs. This will never end. How are people supposed to afford everything?

No taxation without representation.

As we've said in a different post, we've added a new guideline:
Posts that just contain negative language/ideas will not be approved.

The above message from what dat for? is an example of what we will no longer approve.

Thank you for respecting our guidelines going forward and helping build up our online community in a positive way.

-TBNet

I have what I think is a legitimate question about the new guidelines. If the person who posted under 'what dat for?' had made some suggestions that had to do with taxation and representation, would you have permitted that? I wonder because maybe that person had one or more ideas and it might have been interesting to learn what they were. I am not sure what a 'negative idea' really is. If that person suggested a petition or a march even if the outcome could not change a law, would that be deemed a negative idea by TBnet?

Thanks for your comment, question on guidelines.

First, this is new to us as well. We ask for your patience while we ourselves sort through exactly what we mean. The best we can describe is we don't want this to be somewhere people just come to complain. It is very easy to state why you don't like something or what you feel is wrong with something but it takes more thought and energy to then figure out solutions or a compromise.

What you have stated would be just that, possible constructive ways to use your energy in solving a problem or finding a compromise or in this case at least attempting to having your voice heard by the government. We would see that as a positive.

Regarding your questions:
a) it would be on a case by case basis
b) if there had been more substance with the post we would have at least considered it
c) if they did suggest forming a march or petition then we would have most likely approved it

We appreciate your feedback and look forward to working together with everyone to bring this forum back to a place where we all enjoy visiting - just like Treasure Beach. We are very grateful for the overwhelming support we have received from our readers encouraging us to continue in this process as we remain dedicated to positive vibes, positive Treasure Beach, positive Jamaica.

-TBNet