Jamaica Strengthens Tax Administration Capacity Through TARA Programme

Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) continues to strengthen its institutional capacity and investment in people through the graduation of Cohort 34 of its Tax Audit and Revenue Administration (TARA) Postgraduate Diploma Programme.

Twenty-three TAJ officers graduated from the programme at a ceremony held on May 29, 2026, in Kingston, Jamaica. The graduates successfully completed the rigorous 15-month programme, which combines advanced classroom instruction with structured workplace-based learning in tax audit and compliance.

TARA is jointly administered by TAJ and the Management Institute for National Development (MIND) and is accredited by the University Council of Jamaica. The programme represents a key component of Jamaica’s approach to developing a professional, technically competent and service-oriented tax administration workforce.

The programme’s origins date back more than four decades. In 1981, a technical assistance initiative involving experts from the United States Internal Revenue Service identified the need for specialised training to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Jamaica’s revenue services. This led to the establishment of the Tax Auditor Scholarship Programme in 1986, supported at the time by the Government of Jamaica and international development partners. Through continuous review and enhancement, the initiative evolved into the TARA Postgraduate Diploma Programme in 1998 and is now fully funded by the Government of Jamaica.

The current programme comprises 21 courses delivered over approximately 897 classroom hours, complemented by 900 hours of structured on-the-job training. Participants undertake practical assignments within TAJ’s Audit Unit, enabling them to apply classroom learning in a live revenue administration environment. Successful completion of all modules, including the six-month workplace training component, is required for certification.

Cohort 34 achieved a 100 per cent pass rate across all courses, with an overall programme average of 81.7 per cent. High-performing areas included Auditing Through the Computer, the Legal and Technical Framework of Jamaica Customs, the Legal and Technical Framework of Tax Fraud, and Miscellaneous Taxes.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, TAJ Commissioner General, Ainsley Powell, himself a graduate of the programme’s inaugural cohort, underscored the importance of deliberate investment in human capital. He noted that, “sustainable transformation in tax administration depends on professionals who are technically capable, forward-thinking, service-oriented and guided by integrity.”

The programme therefore places equal emphasis on technical competence and the public-service values that support trust in tax administration, including integrity, accountability, professionalism and transparency. These values are central to TAJ’s mandate to deliver efficient, equitable and customer-focused revenue services.

TARA serves as the first level of professional training in tax administration at TAJ and provides a foundation for continuing professional and educational development throughout participants’ careers. Scholarships are awarded to suitably qualified candidates with backgrounds in management studies, accounting, business administration and ACCA Level II.

Through initiatives such as TARA, Jamaica is continuing to build a cadre of skilled revenue professionals equipped to respond to an increasingly complex tax environment, strengthen voluntary compliance, safeguard public revenue and support national development.