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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Prime Minister, Omar Razzaz, said the government will zero tolerance with tax evasion, and penalties will become stricter for tax evaders.

The law stipulates commitment from all taxpayers to pay income tax, and justice requires all to be under its rule, the PM pointed out.

During his visit on Wednesday to the Income and Sales Tax Department (ISTD), Razzaz called on altering the public's tax culture, as tax payment is "a national duty and responsibility."

In this context, Razzaz also referred to directives of His Majesty King Abdullah II aimed to seek justice under the the umbrella of law and to announce the government's procedures to the public.

Continuing:" The income tax in particular is a fair levy that the Constitution mentions as being gradual, and linked to achieving a real profit to be collected."

During the meeting, attended by the ISTD Director General Hossam Abu Ali, in the presence of Finance Minister Mohammad Al-Ississ, Minister of State for Prime Ministry Affairs Sami Dawood and Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh, Razzaz said the government focuses on improving efficiency of tax collection, thus hiking income, or sales taxes is not needed, as many countries do in the region and the world.

Moreover, Razzaz said the government is committed to not hiking the tax, but it will impose "stricter" measures and penalties on tax evaders, urging the public to comply with relevant decisions.

On a sectoral level, the PM voiced his conviction that the private sector is "mostly committed to the income tax statements," describing it " a national sector that makes profits, pays the tax and contributes to the economy and development, however its rights and duties must be clarified and procedures facilitated to it."

Regarding tax inspections, the PM said: "We call on our departments in the public and private sectors and the media that tax inspections do not mean issuing a charge. All countries in the world are conducting inspections on the risks basis and the body that was inspected may be among the "Golden List" approved by the ISTD, which includes the most committed tax-paying businesses and best corporate practices, and not to rush to issue charges in advance."

Razzaz lauded independent bodies working to receive requests challenging the financial auditing operations' outcomes, adding a given company can submit an objection to such an entity, accordingly in the event of a grievance, a settlement request is made.

This independent body sets up an ad hoc committee, headed by a judge, to ensure complete separation of powers, he said, adding:" The government is moving towards facilitating, clarifying and shortening the procedures for tax compliance."

On the ISTD's Code of Conduct, he said this practice is "important", stressing the need to this matter "seriously," to use cameras in inspection tours and develop systems and instructions to carry out operations "clearly" and to dodge any "confusion" in this regard.

The PM directed to find a "clear and declared" grievance mechanism if a discrepancy occurs in the tax estimates, to find a common understanding before resorting to the judiciary, stressing the need to clear criteria for tax settlements.