Property Tax in Jamaica

Nonresidents are taxed only on their Jamaican-sourced income, meaning income earned within Jamaica is subject to Jamaican taxes, but income from abroad is not taxed.

Married couples are generally assessed and taxed separately under Jamaican tax law. However, they have the option to elect for joint assessment, meaning they can combine their incomes and file taxes jointly. This is done through an "Election for Joint Assessment," which may be beneficial in some cases, depending on the couple's financial situation and tax liability.

Income Tax

INCOME TAX

TAXABLE INCOME, JMD (US$) TAX RATE
Up to 6 million (US$38,301) 25%
Over 6 million (US$38,301) 30% on all income over US$38,300

Capital Gains Tax

Jamaica does not have a specific capital gains tax. However, if the gains from selling property are part of a business activity, such as if the property is being sold as part of a real estate business, those gains may be classified as business income and subject to income tax. This means that capital gains from personal property sales are usually not taxed, but gains related to business activities or property trading can be taxed under regular income tax laws.

Corporate Taxation

Income and capital gains earned by non-resident companies are taxed at a flat rate of 33.33%. Income-generating expenses are deductible when calculating taxable income.

Buying and Selling Costs/Taxes

Transaction Costs
    Who Pays?
Property Transfer Tax (Stamp Duty) 2.00% buyer
Legal Fees 2.00% - 3.00% buyer
Notary Fees 0.10% buyer
Real Estate Agent Fee 6.00% seller
Costs Paid by Buyer 4.10% - 5.10%  
Costs Paid by Seller 6.00%
ROUNDTRIP TRANSACTION COSTS 10.10% - 11.10%
Source: Global Property Guide, PWC

Property Holding Tax

Real property taxes are computed on the basis of the unimproved value of the land, which is essentially the property's market value as determined by the valuations office.

The tax ranges from 0.50% to 0.90%.

Subscribe to Global Property Guide

Access up-to-date real estate data and statistics.

Get behind the paywall and more...

Get the data behind 70+ countries for $29 per month.
Latest Market Reports
Rental Yields
House Price Indices
Rent Price Indices
Square Meter Prices
Median Prices and Rents
Mortgage Rates
Property Taxes
Investment Properties
Quarterly Market Overviews