01/11/2021

Income and Sales Tax Department, in cooperation with the Public Financial Management and Administration project funded by the United States Agency for International Development, held a workshop under the auspices of the Minister of Finance, Dr. Mohammad Al-Asas, to update the department’s vision, mission and core values to be consistent with the development of legislation and reforms witnessed by the department, in addition to strengthening the culture of partnership and improving the quality of its services electronically and to ensure that it is presented in accordance with standards of quality, efficiency and transparency.

 At the beginning of the workshop, Minister of Finance Dr. Mohammad Al-Asas said that the efforts made by Income and Sales Tax Department over the past two years in the field of tax reforms and addressing distortions and imbalances in a way that can improve tax justice, raise audit efficiency, combat tax evasion and address tax avoidance instead of imposing new or increasing taxes.

 The Minister of Finance added that the figures speak of the achievements of Income and Sales Tax Department, and I, as Minister of Finance, have the right to feel proud of what the department has accomplished, especially since the figures that were achieved were not by individual efforts, but by various participatory efforts in which everyone contributed and were the result of the reforms undertaken by the department in the areas of auditing, Control and follow-up procedures and the result of electronic linking of information with all institutions and authorities and processing them.

 He added that the department's achievements in all fields make the person full of hope and that we will reach a safe curve without any burden on the citizen, but rather by achieving justice in the economy by combating tax evasion and tax avoidance and increasing tax compliance.

Dr. Al-Asas pointed out that a basic aspect of the department's work aims to facilitate the private sector, and that there will be no growth without legislative stability felt by the private sector.

 He added, "We meet today to determine the identity of the department and the identity of the institutional performance, and this must comply with the government's directions not to raise the tax."

He thanked the US Agency for International Development and the Financial Management and Administration Project for their efforts in contributing with the Ministry of Finance on reforms in many areas.

Dr. Hussam Abu Ali, Director General of Income and Sales Tax Department, thanked the Minister of Finance for his continuous support for the reforms and modernization that the department is witnessing, one of which is the continuation that there is no increase in taxes but an improvement in revenues through reforms and raising the efficiency of auditing and collection.

He added that this workshop comes in response to the department's modernization and development in touch with international applications in advanced tax systems in transferring the burden of proof on the auditor instead of the taxpayer.

 He said that the department was able this year to improve its revenues from direct and indirect taxes as a result of the modernization of legislation and reforms pursued by the department, whereby audit procedures are carried out in accordance with international practices.

This development had to be accompanied by an update of the department's strategy, vision and mission, which take into account international concepts and as a result of a long period of time without reviewing and updating them.

 He said we currently have about 13 tax reform projects, of which (7) are ongoing projects

And 6 projects with a fixed term will be completed this year

 He thanked the US Agency for International Development and the Financial Management and Administration Project for their efforts in contributing with the department in accelerating the reforms that are being implemented. These reforms are all in the interest of the treasury and stop the attrition.

 Ruba Abu Hussein, representative of the US Agency for International Development

During the workshop, Mr. Ruba Abu Hussein, representative of the US Agency for International Development, said: The US Agency for International Development, through the Office of Economic Development, seeks to enhance the implementation of the economic reform agenda of the Jordanian government, and through the public financial management project funded by the US Agency for International Development with the aim of supporting Public financial management in Jordan by improving the performance and efficiency of the revenue system and strengthening the public budget management processes, in addition to improving procurement management and supporting the Jordanian government to carry out reforms and respond to the demands of the International Monetary Fund.

 She added that we in the public financial management and administration project are very keen to support all forms of reform in the field of tax administration and to develop the work of Income and Sales Tax Department  to achieve the national interest and the welfare of citizens.

She thanked the Director General of Income and Sales Tax Department, Dr. Hossam Abu Ali, for his clear guidance and vision and for providing all the capabilities that helped the project team and the Tax Department to cooperate to carry out reform and develop the work of the tax department side by side as a team.

She added, "We are fully aware of the extent of the economic and financial challenges that the Kingdom has witnessed recently, and we appreciate the efforts of the General Tax Department to update its future strategic directions at this critical stage to keep pace with these challenges and overcome them. This workshop will contribute to considering the future strategic directions of Income Tax Department with the participation of the private sector, which is part of important at this stage

She said, "We are proud of the US Agency for International Development for the fruitful partnership with the Ministry of Finance in general and with  Income and Sales Tax Department in particular, in order to achieve the goals of tax reform and enhance public revenues and thus support the financial stability of the public budget."

 Mrs. Manal Al-Assir, Head of the Public Revenue Enhancement Team in the Public Financial Management and Administration Project, said this workshop comes at an appropriate time, as Income and Sales Tax Department is in the process of updating its vision, mission, core values and strategic plan for the coming years.

Holding this workshop is a consolidation of the principle of true partnership between Income and Sales Tax Department and the Public Financial Management Project and the Administration, funded by the US Agency for International Development.

She added that Public Financial Management and Administration Project seeks to provide various forms of technical support to the Ministry of Finance and its departments

In particular, the revenue enhancement team aims to work closely with Income and Sales Tax Department in order to achieve the department's goals at various levels. This includes assistance in developing information technology systems to achieve the desired digital transformation, strengthening institutional and legislative frameworks, raising the efficiency of tax audits, developing awareness and communication activities with taxpayers, expanding the tax base and improving taxpayer data, increasing the effectiveness of combating tax evasion, and building capacities and skills in areas of tax policy and administration.

She noted that achieving the objectives set by the Public Financial Management and Administration Project for the next four years requires establishing solid cooperation relations with the Ministry of Finance and its departments, which requires close communication and work on the ground with project partners to achieve the desired goals. The holding of this workshop embodies these principles. Perhaps this high-level presence confirms the joint desire of the project and the department to achieve tangible results for the benefit of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. While we value the pioneering initiatives of His Excellency the Director General of Income and Sales Tax Department and his tireless efforts with the leaders in the department to move forward in the process of modernization and modernization, we affirm our continuous support for these efforts and harnessing all the capabilities of the project in order to achieve these goals.

 She concluded by saying that we hope that the work of this workshop will be crowned with success and that it will produce practical conclusions that contribute to the development of the strategic directions of Income and Sales Tax Department.

In addition to the assistant director of Income and Sales Tax Department and directors of the directorates, a number of members of the chambers of commerce and industry, auditors, consultants and tax commissioners participated in the workshop.

 At the end of the workshop, it was reached to update the vision and mission of the department and its core values. The vision of Income and Sales Tax Department has become (An optimal tax system that achieves social justice and promotes the growth of the national economy.) and the department’s mission has become (A transparent tax administration that provides tax revenues to the treasury through electronic tax services, enhancing taxpayer confidence, voluntary compliance and tax compliance, and applying legislation with integrity, fairness and justice, depending on efficient human resources and modern technologies and programs.) whose core values ​​have become (Fairness and equality/Efficiency and professional care/Auditor Independence/Maintain confidentiality/Integrity and objectivity/Respect and appreciation of the taxpayers.).

The workshop, which was held over three days, was attended by the assistant director-general, directors, and a number of experts and partners in the private sector, representatives of chambers of commerce and industry, auditors and tax associations.