How to Apply for a Jamaica TRN: In Person, Overseas, and Minors

To apply for a Jamaica TRN, complete the Application for Taxpayer Registration form and submit it with valid identification either in person at any Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) office or, if you live abroad, by mail with a notarized copy of your ID. The Taxpayer Registration Number is a unique nine-digit code that TAJ assigns to every person and organization that deals with Jamaica’s tax system, and initial registration is free.¹

Documents You Need

Individual applicants complete the Application for Taxpayer Registration (Individuals) form. The form asks for your legal name, name at birth, date of birth, and your mother’s name.² You’ll also need one of these forms of ID:

Birth certificate
Passport
Driver’s licence

A baptismal certificate and a Certificate of Birth Registration (the “pink form”) are not accepted. If you use a birth certificate together with a certified photograph as your ID, you must apply in person.²

Applying for a Minor

A parent or legal guardian can apply on behalf of a child under 18. When a parent signs, submit:

The child’s birth certificate, which must show the name of the signing parent
A professionally produced, certified passport-size photograph of the child
The parent’s own identification and TRN

When a guardian applies, the same items are required plus either a court order verifying legal guardianship or a voluntary declaration from the guardian along with a voluntary declaration from someone who can attest to the guardian-child relationship.³

The certified photograph must be signed within the past six months by an authorized person: a Justice of the Peace, attorney-at-law, minister of religion, medical doctor, school principal, or police officer at the rank of inspector or above. JPs should include their assigned JP number on the certification.³

Documents for Organizations

Business entities, non-profits, partnerships, and charities complete a separate Application for Taxpayer Registration (Organizations) form.¹ The Commissioner may require any documents needed to verify the identity of the applicant and the accuracy of the information, which typically includes Articles of Incorporation or registration certificates.⁴

Applying in Person in Jamaica

You can register at any Tax Office islandwide. TAJ operates offices in every parish, including Kingston, Montego Bay, Spanish Town, May Pen, Mandeville, Portmore, and more than 20 other locations.³ In-person applications are generally the fastest route. Many offices issue a printed slip with your nine-digit number the same day, which you can use immediately for banking, vehicle registration, or other transactions while the permanent card is prepared.

Initial registration is free. Make sure everything on the form is filled out correctly and that your identification matches the name on the application. Incomplete forms get sent back, and that turns a same-day process into multiple visits.

Applying From Overseas

If you live outside Jamaica, nobody can apply on your behalf in person. TAJ gives overseas applicants two options:³

Online start, then mail. Create a login on the TAJ website, select the “apply for TRN” link, and complete the web application. Print the generated form, sign it, and mail it along with a notarized copy of your passport or driver’s licence to TAJ.
Paper application by mail. Complete the paper form and mail it with a notarized copy of your passport or driver’s licence directly to TAJ.

Notarization can be done by a Notary Public, a Jamaican High Commission, or a Jamaican Consulate. Your identification must include your full name, date of birth, photograph, and signature. If any supporting document is not in English, include an official translated version. The signature on the application must match the signature on your identification.⁵

Mail your completed package to:

Taxpayer Registration Centre
Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ)
116 East Street, Kingston
Telephone: 1-876-924-9280/1⁵

Overseas applications take longer than walk-in visits because of mail transit and document verification. Once TAJ processes your application, they mail the TRN card to the address on the form. If you want someone in Jamaica to collect it for you, include an authorization letter naming that person.

Replacing a Lost Card or Updating Your Details

If your TRN card is lost, stolen, or destroyed, complete a supplementary form and submit it with a valid form of identification at the nearest Tax Office. If you don’t remember your TRN, clearly state your full name and date of birth on the form so TAJ can look it up.³

When your personal details change, notify TAJ as soon as possible. Complete a TRN Supplemental Information (Individuals) form and bring valid identification to any Tax Office. Name changes require certified copies of supporting documents depending on the reason:

Marriage: certified copy of marriage certificate
Deed poll: certified copy of the deed poll
Divorce: certified copy of the decree absolute
Correction to birth name: certified copy of birth certificate

Mismatches between your TRN record and other government records can delay transactions like property transfers or tax compliance certificate applications.³

What Happens If You Don’t Register

Failing to register for a TRN is an offence under Jamaican law. Individuals face a fine of J$1,000 or up to one month’s imprisonment; businesses face a fine of J$5,000 or up to one month’s imprisonment. Beyond the formal penalties, without a valid TRN you cannot finalize land transfers, open bank accounts, or do business with any government revenue department.³

1
OECD. Jamaica – Information on Tax Identification Numbers
2
Tax Administration Jamaica. Application for Taxpayer Registration – Individuals
3
Tax Administration Jamaica. Taxpayer Registration Number
4
Tax Administration Jamaica. Tax Administration Jamaica Act
5
Consulate General of Jamaica. Application for a Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN)