Kingston, Jamaica – Three Jamaican companies have been fined a mixed $20 million after they have been caught amassing Basic Consumption Tax (GCT) from prospects with out being legally registered to take action.
The businesses concerned are:
- New Panda Meals Restricted
- Bodyscape Rejuvenation Centre Restricted
- Castillo Humorous Membership Leisure
All have been prosecuted by Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) via its Intelligence, Investigation and Enforcement Unit and Authorized Workforce, underneath Part 56(5) of the GCT Act, which states it’s an offence to gather GCT with out being a registered taxpayer.
Case #1: New Panda Meals Restricted – $1M Nice
Based on TAJ, between February 28 and March 12, 2025, New Panda Meals Restricted unlawfully charged prospects GCT with out correct registration. On July 23, 2025, the corporate, represented by director Dong Wang, pleaded responsible to 2 counts within the Sutton Avenue Tax Courtroom.
The protection claimed the corporate, which began in 2023, had acquired dangerous recommendation however is now GCT-registered. A $1 million positive was imposed, with a 60-day jail sentence as the choice if unpaid.
Case #2: Bodyscape Rejuvenation Centre – $3M Nice
The court docket heard that Bodyscape Rejuvenation, positioned on Mannings Hill Highway in St Andrew, unlawfully collected GCT on February 26 and March 8, 2025.
Director Chantelle-Lee Barrett pleaded responsible to each expenses. The corporate was fined $3 million, with the chance of 90 days’ imprisonment if the positive was not paid. TAJ has confirmed the positive was paid in full.
Case #3: Castillo Humorous Membership Leisure – $17M Nice
Montego Bay businessman Wellington Amarico Castello Guerro, working as Castillo Humorous Membership Leisure, pleaded responsible within the St James Parish Courtroom to 12 counts of amassing GCT with out being registered.
TAJ reported that the offences occurred between 2020 and 2022, throughout which the enterprise offered leisure providers to lodges in St James and Trelawny. Investigators uncovered important underreporting and an estimated $15 million in unregistered GCT collected.
The court docket imposed a $17 million positive, with a six-month jail sentence for failure to pay. The positive was subsequently paid.
TAJ Points Public Warning
Tax Administration Jamaica is reminding all enterprise operators and self-employed people that GCT registration is necessary as soon as annual taxable turnover exceeds $15 million.
Moreover, companies that gather taxes on behalf of the Authorities are legally obligated to remit these funds in full and on time. Failure to conform is a legal offence.
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