Cabinet withdraws tax bill, says reforms vital

AMMAN — Prime Minister Omar Razzaz has decided to withdraw the 2018  income tax law from the Lower House.

The decision was announced following the first meeting of the new Cabinet on Thursday, during which the Council of Ministers discussed all the aspects of the draft law and comments of the various sectors on it, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The decision comes in line with the Royal directives contained in the Letter of Designation, which stressed the need for a comprehensive review of the tax system and the tax burden in an integrated manner, away from imposing indirect and unfair consumer taxes.

The bill has triggered nationwide protests that led to the resignation of Hani Mulki’s government. 

During the meeting, the prime minister said public interest necessitates the withdrawal of the income tax draft law for several reasons, foremost of which was that the draft law did not receive deep discussions despite its importance, adding that the draft law should be studied within the framework of the total tax burden, in addition to focusing on tax evasion.

In the same context, the prime minister stressed Jordan’s commitment to the financial reform programme and the continuation of economic reforms, taking into account the social and economic impact of any related legislation, and stressed the need for these reforms in a bid to achieve the necessary growth to boost the resilience of the national economy.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet decided to appoint Minister of State for Media Affairs Jumana Ghunaimat as government spokesperson.