"Our goal is to stamp out this pervasive culture of tax evasion which has as its motto, 'catch me if you can'. Our response, resonant with steely determination will be, 'Yes, we can'," In a press conference with representatives of the International Monetary Fund "I want to promise every recalcitrant, everyone who continues to plunder the public purse, be warned that we coming," the finance minister told Parliament.
Tjhese are the words of MP Audley Shaw - Aug 2010 Speaking about the tax issues before Jamaicas' Parliment; who convened to discuss Jamaicas' impending IMF Loan
HILLARIOUS That is the Only Word for this latest seizure, in Jamaicas' Entertainers tax row. apparently Bounty Killa now has to Hold DAT ! the tax man rolled into his yard this past week and took his Rover and His Landcruiser. so I guess it's true "he nah hav no lancruiser it's a bancruiser" as in banned to him driving it till he pays his taxes.
Do You Remember This Parody from Twin of Twins featuring Bounty Killer and Roundhead arguing over some Rims for Roundheads' Landcruiser ? Hillarious Indeed.. so now it look like unu a hafi bring breadfruit and banana to the tax man Bounty . eeehhhhh
Please tell me why entertainers get flossy and forget their ice is blinging to the worrrrrld ? Big Entertainers Deh a Yard, remember that the tax man is paying attention to you more now that Dudus is locked away. You are the new money targets so unu bes fess up and pay unu taxes or the tax man a go rob unu blind. Mi Start Tink, them shoulda start grow Banana and Breadfruit fi pay off dem debts.
This is the Wrap Up of the Lord of Di Rims - You really want to listen to this one too.
Now Bounty and Ele You HOL DAT !
These Stories are from the Jamaica Gleaner from July and August. you can click the titles to go to the original stories
Taxman fed up - Authorities seize Bounty Killer's luxury vehicles
Tax officials are warning that there will be no ease-up in the intensity with which they are going after delinquent taxpayers, chief among them being entertainers, businessmen and professionals.
Yesterday, the authorities seized two high-end motor vehicles from the upper St Andrew home of dancehall superstar Rodney Pryce, otherwise known as 'Bounty Killer'.
The authorities say the entertainer, who was recently stripped of his US visa, was a delinquent taxpayer but would give no details about his case.
Pryce, whose Range Rover and a Land Cruiser were taken by the tax department's special enforcement team, is said to owe millions of dollars in taxes.
However, an attorney close to the case said the entertainer has been paying his taxes. The attorney said he has filed his annual returns and made payments, but objected when the tax department assessed him for far more than he had paid.
Communications director at the Tax Administration Department Merris Haughton told The Gleaner, "There is a serious problem with delinquency right across the board ... entertainers, business persons and professionals."
Last month, the tax department seized a luxury Mercedes-Benz motorcar from the Hillcrest Avenue home of dancehall star Elephant Man, whose real name is Oneil Bryan.
Grammy-award winning deejay 'Beenie Man', whose real name is Moses Davis, was also hauled before the tax court in 2008 for allegedly owing millions of dollars in taxes.
Haughton said the tax department was not singling out entertainers, but indicated that a number of them are in arrears.
However, since the crackdown against delinquent taxpayers, she said there has been a significant improvement in the number of persons who have come forward and made payments, or made arrangements to pay.
Warning
Meanwhile, Minister Audley Shaw again sounded the warning to tax dodgers yesterday during a joint press conference with representatives of the International Monetary Fund
"I want to promise every recalcitrant, everyone who continues to plunder the public purse, be warned that we coming," Shaw said.
During his budget presentation in April, Shaw announced that the taxman would be targeting professional groups such as lawyers and doctors, and artisans such as masons who, the minister said, are not paying their fair share of taxes.
"Our goal is to stamp out this pervasive culture of tax evasion which has as its motto, 'catch me if you can'. Our response, resonant with steely determination will be, 'Yes, we can'," the finance minister told Parliament.
"We need to stop paying lip service to combating the scourge of tax evasion," Shaw said as he promised to tighten laws and increase penalties, including custodial sentences, in the fight against tax cheats.
Taxman seizes Elephant Man's BENZ
Taxman grabs Ele's Benz - photo by Gladstone Taylor
Agents from the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) yesterday (july 2010) seized a posh Mercedes-Benz motor car valued at millions of dollars from dancehall star Elephant Man in a bid to collect taxes owed by the entertainer.
The car was taken from an upscale home at Hillcrest Avenue, St Andrew, believed to be owned by Elephant Man, whose real name is Oneil Bryan.
While the car was being placed on a tow truck, Elephant Man, who has done several collaborations with R&B stars in the United States, remained inside the house with his advisers and did not speak to reporters gathered outside.
Director of communications for the IRD, Meris Haughton, did not release the delinquent's name, but confirmed that its special enforcement team, supported by the St Andrew North police, "conducted an operation to seize an assetof a taxpayer for outstanding taxes". Haughton would not divulge how much money is involved.
Could face charges
Haughton explained that in cases where property is seized, delinquent taxpayers have 10 days to pay off their arrears or the confiscated asset would be auctioned. She said if the proceeds from the auction do not cover the debt, the taxpayer could face criminal or civil charges.
Police sources told The Gleaner that the IRD's special enforcement team first swooped down on Elephant Man's mansion overlooking Havendale, also in St Andrew, but nothing of significant value was identified.
However, one source involved in the operation said the team learnt of the Hillcrest Avenue home while searching the first residence.
Elephant Man, popular for his colourful hairstyles and zany performances on stage, shot to fame in the 1990s with the dancehall group Scare Dem Crew. He then went solo and recorded a string of hit songs, including dancing anthems Pon Di River, Gully Creepa and Sweep.
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