TaxoraGeneral Consumption Tax (GCT) is Jamaica's value-added tax, charged on the supply of goods and services. Not every business needs to register, but once your turnover crosses the threshold, registration becomes mandatory.
When Must You Register?
You must register for GCT if your annual taxable supplies exceed J$15,000,000 (approximately US$97,000). This is tracked on a rolling 12-month basis. Voluntary registration is also available for businesses below this threshold that wish to reclaim input GCT.
GCT Rates
Jamaica has multiple GCT rates:
- Standard rate: 15% — applies to most goods and services
- Telephone services: 25%
- Tourism services: 10%
- Zero-rated: 0% — exports, basic food items, and certain supplies
- Exempt: Financial services, medical services, education, and residential rent
Filing Obligations
Once registered, you must file GCT returns (Form GCT4A) regularly. The filing frequency depends on your turnover — monthly or bi-monthly. Returns are due by the 25th of the month following the filing period.
Input vs Output GCT
As a registered taxpayer, you charge GCT on your sales (output tax) and can claim back GCT paid on business purchases (input tax). Your GCT liability is the difference: Output GCT minus Input GCT.
How Taxora Handles GCT
Taxora tracks your GCT-eligible transactions, computes your GCT4A return, and generates the form ready for filing. Import your sales and purchase records, and let the system handle the computation.