Premier pays surprise visit to tax department

AMMAN — Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Sunday paid an unannounced visit to the Income and Sales Tax Department's (ISTD) northern Amman branch and checked on the work progress at the agency and services it provides to investors in terms of tax assessment and collection. 

Ensour talked to people who happened to be at department, estimated between 300 to 500 visitors a day, and listened to their remarks and suggestions to improve the quality of services at the facility, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He called for applying whatever procedures that can facilitate investors' work, and paying more attention to their cases at the department, in addition to reducing time and effort needed to complete their transactions. 

The premier also stressed the importance of completing the electronic interconnectivity project between ISTD and partner institutions to provide access to updated information related to cases the department deals with. 

Touring the department’s archive section, Ensour called for filing the tens of thousands of  files in a way that guarantees a speedy retrieval and ease of access, and at the same time, maintains the confidentiality of information, Petra added. 

He also called for paying more attention to the fire alarm system in the archive section to ensure the necessary protection for the important documents kept there.

Mohammad Zu’bi, the branch manager, said the branch serves investors and citizens regardless of their places of residence, thanks to the electronic connection between ISTD directorates in the Kingdom, according to Petra.

On December 23, the Cabinet decided to waive fines on unpaid taxes and fees if taxpayers settled their unpaid dues to the tax department, the Jordan Customs Department, municipalities, public universities and the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority.

Exemptions were 100 per cent in the first three months of the year, and went down to 75 per cent in the second quarter.

Starting July 1 and until the end of September, the fines drop by 50 per cent, while the percentage will go down to 25 per cent between October and December.

The move is aimed at encouraging taxpayers to settle their dues and to generate more revenues for the Treasury, according to a previous statement by ISTD Spokesperson Musa Tarawneh.

Earlier this month, Ensour paid a similar visit to a Department of  Land and Survey branch in west Amman, also as agency concerned with serving investors, amid efforts and personal attention by His Majesty King Abdullah to improve the investment climate in Jordan.