34th Edition I April 2020-September 2020
Inside HOW TO COMPLETE A FORM 1A
COMPANIES CAN GET A TCC AT COJ DOCUMENT EXAMINATION: MAKING AN APPOINTMENT HOW TO REGISTER USING THE EBRF
1 Year for eBRF
Opening Hours Our office is opened for business during the following hours: Kingston Office: Mondays to Wednesdays 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays: 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Montego Bay Office: Mondays to Thursdays 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Fridays: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Our Drop-Off Box facility is available Mondays to Fridays 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
August 7, 2020 marks one year since the launch of the Companies Office of Jamaica’s Electronic Business Registration Form (eBRF). Here, CEO & Registrar of the COJ Judith Ramlogan demonstrates to Prime Minister Andrew Holness the platform interface. The eBRF provides an online facility customers may access 24/7 to register company and business names. On the anniversary, the eBRF was used by customers to register more than 1,900 entities.
More Persons Using Electronic Business Registration Form More business people are using the electronic business registration form (eBRF) to register their operations since the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
users to register their business name or company name from anywhere in the world, via the COJ’s website, www.orcjamaica.com.
The online platform, launched by the Com- Public Relations Officer of the COJ, Kawain panies Office of Jamaica (COJ) in August Fearon, told JIS News that more than 800 2019, replaces the paper-based ‘superform’ entities have registered since January 2020 that was introduced in 2014 and allows CONTINUED TO PAGE 4
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website to request status letters, search for entities, download documents, among other things.
using the online platform, with 400 between March and May. “There was a bit of decline when the lockdown started… because of the uncertainty of the environment, but in May there was a big increase in the usage,” he said, adding that many of the businesses registered were online and delivery services. Mr. Fearon told JIS News that the COJ wants to have more persons using the eBRF.
“There is no need to leave your home or office to do business at the COJ. We encourage persons to use those features because it will allow them to do it in their own time and leisure and they can get documents a lot faster than coming into the office,” he pointed out. Persons can contact the COJ’s head office in Kingston at 876-908-4419-26 or email: custsupport@orcjamaica.com for additional information.
“We are doing a lot more engagement with our customers to highlight the importance and ease of access using the eBRF,” The eBRF form is a collaborative effort involving the Public he said. Sector Transformation and Modernisation Division in the Office of the Cabinet, with funding support from the InterHe noted that the COJ is in the process of setting up kiosks at American Development Bank (IDB). its offices and at Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) for individuals without access to a computer. The initiative is part of measures by the Government to make business registration easier in Jamaica in order to improve Mr. Fearon is also encouraging persons to use the COJ’s ease of doing business.
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HOW TO ... COMPLETING THE FORM 1A
MAKING AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE COJ Clients who are having issues with multiple rejections are reminded that they may come in and sit with a Business Registration examiner who will assist with the issues being experienced. This service is available every Wednesday and by Appointment Only. To access this service simply Call our Customer Service Department at 876-908-4419 to make an appointment.
SEARCH OUR WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION ON COMPANIES & BUSINESSES ORCJAMAICA.COM -3-
Companies can get TCC at COJ upon Registration Companies are able to obtain a Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC) at the Companies Office of Jamaica (COJ) upon the registration of a name. The TCC, which is processed by Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ), is an important document issued to an individual or company as proof that they are tax compliant and their payments of tax liabilities and wage-related statutory deductions are up to date. The TCC, issued upon registration, is valid for three months. Once expired, the customer will have to engage TAJ. Public Relations Officer, Kawain Fearon, told JIS News that the COJ has formed a partnership with TAJ and “has established a one-stop shop approach when registering a business and company”. “Coming to the COJ you will get a TRN, you will get a TCC, so there is no more going to the TAJ to get those documents to come back to us for registration,” he explained, adding that with the one-stop approach, the COJ is also in partnership with TAJ, the National Housing Trust, National Insurance Scheme and the HEART/NSTA Trust. “So, once you register at the Companies Office of Jamaica your information is shared with these different agencies, and that is how we now register those
entities and are able to give them a number from our partnering agencies,” he said. Previously, Mr. Fearon said that persons wishing to obtain a TCC were required to visit four different offices to complete the application process. The Public Relations Officer said that the sharing of data between the entities has improved service delivery, adding that the one-stop process is designed to benefit customers by reducing travel expenses and waiting time.
What is a TCC?
Tax Compliance Certificate is a document issued to an individual or a company as proof that payments of tax liabilities and wage-related statutory deductions are up-to-date.
Why do I need a TCC?
A Tax Compliance Certificate is needed to ensure that an individual/ organisation is tax compliant and that all tax-liabilities and wage related statutory deductions are up to date where applicable. It further serves to encourage voluntary compliance.
“There is no additional costs to it, in terms of travel expenses and waiting for a day and all of those things. When you ca you will get those numbers as part of come to the Companies Office of Jamai- your registration package,” he said.
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Know Your Forms Forms can be downloaded from the COJ’s website at www.orcjamaica.com
Form BN6: To close a Business Name (fee to close is Business is $600) Form BN1: To renew a Sole Trader — Business Name Form BN2: To renew a Partnership — Business Name Remember to file your Annual Return today!
Our Partners: The following Government Ministries and Agencies have partnered with the Companies Office of Jamaica to make your business registration and start-up experience easy and convenient: Ministry of Industry Investment & Commerce eGov Jamaica Ltd (formerly Fiscal Services Ltd) Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) Ministry of Labour and Social Security (N.I.S.)
National Housing Trust HEART Trust/NTA Jamaica Business Development Corporation Contact us: Companies Office of Jamaica 1 Grenada Way, Kingston 5 Telephone: (876) 908-4419–24 Fax: (876) 960-7152
The Companies Office of Jamaica is an Executive Agency under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture & Fisheries