Sugar tax shortfall

Finance

Business

September 30, 2026

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The Government collected $3 billion less than it had budgeted from the local special consumption tax (SCT) during the April-June quarter, with the Ministry of Finance pointing, in part, to non-compliance following the introduction of the sugar-sweetened drinks tax.

But the country’s fiscal watchdog, the Independent Fiscal Commission (IFC), says the explanation does not go far enough.

The IFC said information provided by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service (MoFPS) was inadequate to determine whether the explanation for the 35.5 per cent shortfall was reasonable.

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Sourced from Jamaica Observer. Visit their website to read the full story.

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