JCSD puts mailings on hold

The Jamaica Central Securities Depository (JCSD) said this week it would cease mid-year mailing of statements until further notice.

The depository in the meantime is making arrangements for account holders to review the status of their investments via the Web.

"We remain aware of share-holders' need to access information on the status of their investments and, therefore, all JCSD account holders will be given free access to their statements online," said a company statement.

Otherwise, statement requests and standing orders will continue to be accommodated at brokers' offices as well as at the JCSD's office, as now happens.

DHL launches SME web portal

Patrick Frith, DHL Express Jamaica's country manager.

DHL Express in June set up an online resource centre that showcases some 110,000 products in 180 countries.

DHL Jamaica country manager Patrick Frith said the intent is to provide small businesses with "a one-stop shop for all tools they need to grow their business in Caribbean and globally."

"It is free to users, they are welcome to browse."

DHL Express, which is part of the Deutsche Post DHL group, moves goods via air and ocean freight, road and rail transportation and international mail services. A service that helps businesses build out supply and distribution chains would also benefit international courier services such as DHL, whose global network spans 220 countries and territories and has some 310,000 employees worldwide.

Said Frith: "We know that SMEs generate 15 and 25 per cent of goods and services within regions. The platform will help strengthen the SME community."

Access to the website is not restricted to DHL clients.

business@gleanerjm.com

Property tax deadline nears

The extended deadline for paying property taxes runs out next Wednesday, June 30.

Immediately thereafter, if land and other real estate owners have not remitted the tax, a penalty of 10 per cent will be applied automatically, said the Tax Administration Services Department (TASD).

The taxes are payable at Inland Revenue centres nationwide.

The TASD also says that property owners may, through arrangements with Inland Revenue, arrange to pay the tax on a semi-annual or quarterly basis.

However, where the payment misses the amnesty deadline of June 30, the penalty will be applied to the portion of the tax that is past due, TASD said in a statement.

Semi-annual payments are due April 1 and October 1, while quarterly payments are due on the first day of April, July, October and January, according to a fiscal year calendar.