Gov’t extends exemptions on housing taxes, fees until March 31, 2022

AMMAN — The Cabinet on Wednesday decided to extend exemptions on apartment and land registration fees, property sales tax and inheritance transfer fees until March 31, 2022.

Under the decision, exemptions will be granted to the first 150 square metres of housing units on registration fees regardless of sellers, area or the number of units. The additional areas will be subject to lowered fees and a 50 per cent tax of the legal rate, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The exemptions are restricted only to Jordanians.

The decisions were made during a Cabinet session chaired by Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Bisher Al Khasawneh. 

As for land exemptions, the lowering of sales fees by 50 per cent will also continue until March 31, 2022. 

The decision aims at stimulating the real estate and housing market and enabling low- and lower-income people to buy lands and own proper housing units. 

The Cabinet decided to extend a previous decision exempting citizens and economic activities from 25 per cent of construction fees and parking fees until March 31, 2022 to enable citizens to pay back overdue amounts before the end of this year. 

Also during Wednesday’s session, the Cabinet approved the personal data protection bill for the year 2021.

The draft law aims to bolster constitutional rights and freedoms, solidify the Kingdom’s status among countries regulating the digital environment, and protect personal data of Jordanians and residents in Jordan. 

The Cabinet endorsed the 2021 government procurement system, aiming to regulate and clarify ambiguity of the procedures of governmental purchasing. 

Similarly, the Council of Ministers approved the 2021 Prime Ministry Administrative Regulation System, which focuses on downsizing the regulatory body at the Prime Ministry, ensuring the ideal exploitation of human resources and defining the relation between regulatory bodies at the Prime Ministry. 

On another note, the Cabinet appointed Minister Plenipotentiary at the Foreign Ministry Asal Tall as the Jordanian ambassador to South Korea and the Jordanian ambassador to the Netherlands Daifallah Fayez as Jordan’s Non-Resident Ambassador to Estonia.