22/02/2024

Director of the Income and Sales Tax Department, Dr. Hussam Abu Ali, said that the Tax Department has adopted many tax reforms and Achieve many accomplishments in all fields, the most prominent of which is the use of electronic programs and modern technologies to provide tax services to taxpayers and companies and the implementation of many reforms that are consistent with international standards and in a way that enables them to achieve Its financial, economic and social goals.

He added, during the visit of the Director of the USAID Mission in Jordan, Mr. Leslie Reed, to the Department to view the Taxpayer Services Center and the Training Center at the Tax Institute and the reforms that were completed in cooperation with the Public Financial Management and Administration Project, that the Department has expanded the electronic services provided to taxpayers through The website until the number of services provided electronically became about 65 tax services that the taxpayer could obtain without any visit to the department’s offices, so that it became the first digital department in the Kingdom.

With regard to the tax reform projects that were implemented in cooperation with the Public Financial Management and Administration Project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development recently, a project for digital control of sales tax was implemented in factories that produce cigarettes, This type of control is considered a national interest during which the shift from Traditional control, which requires the presence of employees from the department in factories, to electronic digital control

This system was prepared in accordance with international best practices in digital monitoring and the requirements of the World Health Organization in combating illicit tobacco trade. Thus, the Kingdom has become one of the first countries in the Middle East region to adopt this method of monitoring factories and linking it to tax collections.

Abu Ali said that tax reforms have been carried out by establishing the necessary legislative framework to address tax imbalances and distortions that are used by companies and tax representatives to avoid taxes or evade taxes, and international best practices have been applied, including: applying the transfer pricing system in the Jordanian tax system. Adopting the standard conditions for tax incentives for registered institutions in development areas and adopting the principle of supply instead of sale in the sales tax law in accordance with international practices. As well as issuing executive instructions regarding laws and regulations.

He added that the tax administration has been unified in the professional and technical aspects for taxpayers registered with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, as the standards and principles applied to files in the Income and Sales Tax Department are now applied to these taxpayers.

He pointed to the change in the approach to combating tax evasion by moving from the principle of receiving complaints to the principle of relying on processing and analyzing data and information through a plan based on risk management. Plans to combat tax evasion have now become dependent on risk management for economic sectors, events and activities, investigation, collection and analysis of information and data. It has also been approved to record audio and video of inspection tours for employees of the Income and Sales Tax Department by using a recording cameras during work.

Abu Ali added that the organizational structure of the Tax Department has been modified to raise the efficiency of auditing and to meet the need to develop the department’s procedures for auditing, combating tax evasion, and raising the efficiency of auditing and collection. Many directorates have been created, including the Directorates of Professionals, the Directorate of Registered Institutions in Free Zones and Development Zones, the Directorate of Employees and Deductions, and the tax Institute. and billing directorate.

During the meeting, he pointed out the approval and adoption of a code of job conduct for employees of the Tax Department, which raises the standards of auditors in the Tax Department in accordance with international practices, which contributes to raising the efficiency of auditing. The most prominent features of the code of job conduct include: no conflict of interest, no obtaining personal benefits and interests, applying equality and justice. Control and confidentiality after retirement.

the Advisor to the Director General  Raghad Akroush, gave a presentation on the most prominent projects and reforms that were implemented in the Income and Sales Tax Department in cooperation with the Financial and Administration Project, such as the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques, as the Income and Sales Tax Department is considered the first government department to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in its tasks and duties, as the department was able to Preparing an electronic tax audit system based on (AI) has contributed to speeding up the auditing of tax declaration and discharging tax liability for taxpayers, which contributes to quickly discovering inaccurate data and information provided by taxpayers and thus contributing to raising the efficiency of tax auditing and speeding up the completion of tax services for taxpayers.

The electronic auditing system was launched using artificial intelligence techniques to keep pace with global systems, achieve tax justice, reduce human intervention, and increase tax compliance, in addition to working to increase voluntary compliance. Thus, the department moved from the manual auditing process to electronic auditing using artificial intelligence techniques, where a system was developed for this purpose, so that The burden of proof is no longer on the taxpayer, but rather on the auditor, through electronic auditing. When the taxpayer submits his tax return, it is subjected to electronic auditing, so that the data and information provided by him are verified and audited using artificial intelligence techniques.

During the visit, they reviewed the services provided by the Taxpayer Services Center and the computer training laboratory that were developed in cooperation with the Public Finance and Administration Project funded by the United States Agency for International Development.

It is noteworthy that it is possible to contact the Taxpayers Services Center via phone or WhatsApp application via phone number 062222130 or various social networking sites and e-mail: istd@istd.gov.jo. To receive the required assistance, respond to inquiries and comments, and assist in the electronic conduct of taxpayers’ transactions procedures and respond to them in the shortest possible time.