Mulki, Fayez say new income tax law ‘necessary to reach self-reliance’

AMMAN — Senate President Faisal Fayez on Wednesday discussed with Prime Minister Hani Mulki the amended draft law on the income tax, which was referred by the government to the Lower House of Parliament last week, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

"The conditions we are going through require united efforts in order to deal with the challenges based on national responsibility," Fayez said, noting that the meeting comes as part of continued consultation between the Senate and officials to follow up on the government's measures to address economic challenges. 

Fayez stated that the Senate will continue shouldering its national responsibility to address economic challenges so as to serve the interests of the country's citizens, preserve economic and social stability in the Kingdom and translate His Majesty King Abdullah's directives to improve citizen's living conditions.

The Senate president stressed that the chamber, through its specialised committees, will conduct in-depth dialogues on the tax law with various commercial and industrial sectors, civil society institutions, experts and specialists, in order to reach understandings on the law based on its monitoring, legislative and constitutional duty.

For his part, Mulki said the government is "serious" in dealing with various economic challenges to reach a stage of self-reliance and overcome the difficult economic conditions. 

The premier pointed out that the government is continuing dialogue on the draft law and explaining its contents to various stakeholders including the Senate and Lower House, various civil society institutions and other concerned bodies.

Fayez emphasised that "no financial and economic reform should affect the lives of citizens, especially the limited and moderate income citizens", calling for the establishment of "deterrent measures to prevent tax evasion and the misuse of public money".