Jamaica Customs Agency
What Exactly Do They Do?

Jamaica Customs Agency | Shipping to Jamaica

by Venesha Johnson | Associate Writer

“Boi customs tief!” exclaims every Jamaican citizen when it’s time to collect a barrel and pick an order from overseas. We know for certain that customs regulate what we pay for taking goods onto the island, but what else do we know about them?

History of the Jamaica Customs Agency

It is difficult to pinpoint an exact start date for customs duty collection in Jamaica. However, in 1867, a detailed list of import and export duties was established. A law was passed in 1877 that provided for:

• The construction of wharves, ports, and warehouses
• Customs officers are appointed.
• Payment of benefits, bonds, and securities
• Ships and aeroplanes are registered.
• Required modes of entry for the importer and/or exporter
• Goods importation and warehousing

The Collector General's Department is the first revenue agency to be documented in history. Except for the Post Master General, it was established in 1868 with the primary responsibility of collecting revenue on all imports. It was also in charge of collecting income and property taxes, licensing fees, and other business-related taxes.

The Jamaican government established the Inland Revenue Department in 1985 to promote greater accountability and increase revenue collection. The Department was divided into two parts: Customs and Excise and Inland Revenue.

The Jamaican government, in collaboration with the World Bank, reorganized the revenue service along functional lines in October 1991. The further subdivision of the Customs and Excise Department into the Jamaica Customs Department and the General Consumption Tax (GCT) Department was one aspect of the reorganisation.

The Jamaica Customs Department was designated as an Executive Agency on March 28, 2013, and will begin full operations on April 2, 2013.

The Role of Jamaica Customs

Jamaica Customs has three distinct mandates: equitable revenue collection, border protection against illicit imports, and trade facilitation. JCA performs these duties by:

• Import customs duties, fees, and penalties must be assessed and collected.
• Interdiction and seizure of contraband, such as narcotics and illegal drugs;
• Passengers, baggage, cargo, and mail are all processed.
• Detecting and apprehending individuals engaged in fraudulent practices intended to circumvent Customs laws;
• Protecting Jamaica's industries, labour, and intellectual property rights by enforcing Jamaica's anti-illegal trade practices laws, including quota provisions; the Anti-Dumping Act; and by providing Customs Records for copyrights, patents, and trademarks.
• Enforcing import and export restrictions and prohibitions, including money laundering, to protect the general welfare and security of Jamaica.
• The Customs Act governs all customs activities. Customs enforces over 125 other legal provisions for other agencies in addition to its own.
• List of Customs Legislation and Acts.

Customs Act

• Charities Act
• Executive Agency Gazette
• Customs Regulations
• The Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act
• The procedure of Crimes Act
• The Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act
• Omnibus Incentive Leglislation
• The Proceeds of Crime Act
• Trademarks Act
• Executive Agencies Act
• Revenue Administration Act
• Revenue Administration Act Amendment
• Merchandise Marks Act
• Tax Administration Jamaica Act
• Fiscal Incentives (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act
• Firearms Act
• Copyright Act
• Customs (Amendment) Act
• The Proceeds of Crime Act
• The Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act
• Executive Agency Gazette
• The Disaster Risk Management

Jamaica Customs also has quite a few divisions, each covering a myriad of issues. These are:

• Valuations
• Border Protection
• Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme
• International and Industry Liaison
• Returning Resident
• Customs Operations

Now, onto what we really know customs for, Trading. Customs covers:

• Import Procedure
• Export Procedure
• Stakeholders
• Integrated Tariff

Let’s take a brief look into the Import and Export Procedures.

Import Procedure - this covers the procedures for importing barrels, importing from Caricom countries, importing Personal items, and importing for Charities. It also covers what Passengers are allowed to carry into the island.

Commercial goods, Motor vehicles, Restricted Items, Prohibited Items, Duties and Taxes, Returning residents, Returning Resident Entitlements and Goods Imported for Temporary Use are all part of the Import Procedure.

Export Procedure - this simply covers the export of personal and commercial goods

Their website https://www.jacustoms.gov.jm/ provide in-depth details about all their policies, rules and regulations, divisions and so much more.

Contact Information

Customs House

• Address: Myers Wharf, Newport East, Kingston 15
• Phone: 876 922 5140-8 | 922 8770-3

Corporate Office

• Address: 2-4 King Street, Kingston
• Phone: 876 948 5151

Opening Hours

• Monday - Thursday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
• Friday: 8:00am - 4:00pm

Sharing IS Caring! Please help me get the message out by sharing this article with your friends on social media (links below). Thnx ;-)

If you found this page useful, please consider subscribing to my weekly newsletter, to get even more. 

It tells you each week about the new information that I have added, including new developments and great stories from lovers of Jamaica! 

Return to Shipping A Barrel to Jamaica from Jamaica Customs
Return to My Island Jamaica Homepage from Jamaican Customs

References & Sources For Jamaican Customs

1. Jacustoms.gov.jm. 2022. Jamaica Customs Agency Website | Country Above Self. [online] Available at: [Accessed 26 August 2022].

Jamaica Customs | Written: August 27, 2022

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.

Back To The Top Of This Page

New! Get My Latest Book👇🏿

You asked, I've answered! You no longer need to save for months or years, to enjoy paradise! JAMAICA On A Budget is your passport to experiencing what I call 'The Real Jamaica' on a budget! I spilled the beans! sharing my top tips on finding cozy accommodations and secret gems, only the way a native could! Click Here to pick it up on my e-store and start saving now!

See The Best Of Jamaica - In Videos!

My channel reaches over 140,000 subscribers worldwide and has leveraged over 11 million views, sharing, what I call 'The Real Jamaica'. Subscribe today and join our family of viewers.

Read More ...

New! Experience The REAL Jamaica!
Book Your Private Tour here and experience Jamaica the way we (locals) do!

---

P.S. Didn't find what you were looking for? 
Still need help?

Click Here to try our dependable and effective Site Search tool. It works!

Or, simply click here and here, to browse my library of over 500 questions and answers! Chances are someone already asked (and got an answer to) your question.

---

SHOP JAMAICAN Book Local Tours

Book Your Vacation Travel TIPS and Cautions

Watch My Videos!

Featured Video!

Travelling To Jamaica? 

Read this BEFORE you go

👇🏿

Recent Articles

• 
• 
• 

1. 101 Medicinal Herbs Of Jamaica- Top Natural Healing Herbs Of Jamaica

   Nov 20, 24 09:27 PM

   
   Here they are! The top 101 medicinal herbs of Jamaica. These ancient wonders that have provided effective natural healing from our parents and fore-parents. Ready?

   Read More

2. Does Jamaica Recognize Common Law Marriage?

   Nov 20, 24 11:50 AM

   
   To marry or not to marry? Once frowned upon, there’s much more leniency for common-law relationships these days. Does Jamaica Recognize Common Law Marriage?

   Read More

3. Can Jamaican Black Castor Oil Be Used On Your Face?

   Nov 19, 24 05:29 PM

   
   We have long discovered the great benefits of castor oil for our hair. But can Jamaican Black Castor oil be used on your face?

   Read More

4. Jamaica4-H Clubs Embrace Technology to Engage Youth

   Nov 16, 24 11:14 PM

   The Jamaica 4-H Clubs are taking significant steps to integrate technology into their agricultural initiatives, aiming to captivate and involve more young

   Read More

5. Jamaica Aims to Lead Global Health and Wellness Tourism

   Nov 16, 24 11:10 PM

   Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has announced plans to position Jamaica as a premier global destination for health and wellness tourism. The island’s

   Read More