Returning Residents Guide - A Complete Safety & Security Guide to Coming Home to Jamaica

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Step What you do Where/Who Notes

4. Get tax IDs
   & e-account

TRN for the business (if required),

e-services profile

Tax

Administration

Jamaica (TAJ)

Register for GCT if you expect to

exceed the current threshold

(check TAJ for the live number).

5. Open bank
   accounts

JMD + USD, online banking, card

controls

Your bank Take COJ docs + IDs; ask about

diaspora/returnee desks.

6. Employee
   onboarding

NIS/NHT registration; payroll

setup

MLSS / NIS • NHT

• TAJ

Even for one employee, set this

up early.

7. Licences &
   permits

Sectoral (e.g., Trade Board import

licence, tourism, food handling) Relevant agency^

Don’t ship or start regulated

activity before the licence.

8. Municipal
   approvals

Signage, outdoor dining, noise

exemption, trade licence (where

required)

Local Municipality

Requirements vary by parish—

call before you print signage.

9. Compliance
   calendar

Statutory returns, annual returns,

tax filings

COJ • TAJ Create a one-page calendar;

assign an owner.

C. Money & Unit Economics (fit on one page)

Line Monthly target Notes

Leads → Conversions ____ leads → ____ customers Track by channel.

Avg. order / job value $ ______ Include delivery/fees.

Gross margin ____ % Price – direct costs.

Overheads $ ______ Rent, salaries, utilities, software.

Break-even ____ sales/month Overheads ÷ gross profit per sale.

Cash buffer ___ months Aim for 3–6 months of overheads.

Invoice hygiene

• Quote → PO/Agreement → Invoice → Receipt (no cash-only).


• Use escrow or staged payments (30% / 40% / 30%).


• Late fees in contracts; remind at 3– 7 – 14 days.

D. Compliance Quick-Checks (put this in your office)

Item Owner Frequency Status

GCT return (if registered) Monthly/bi-monthly ☐

Payroll (PAYE, NIS, NHT, Education Tax) Monthly ☐

Annual Return (COJ) Yearly ☐

Corporate Income Tax Yearly (estimates may apply) ☐

Trade/sector licence renewal As required ☐

Insurance (public & employer’s liability) Yearly ☐