US embassy cable - 03AMMAN1901

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 001901 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARN AND EB/CIP 
USDOC FOR 6430/ITA/ITI/OITEC/DKRIZ 
 
E.O. 12958; N/A 
TAGS: BEXP, ETRD, JO, ECIP 
SUBJECT: Jordan: Reply to Questionnaire 
 
REF: USDOC 06506 
 
(Source: Jordan Computer Society) 
(Source: Information Technology Association - Jordan; INTAJ) 
(Source: Jordan Institute of Standards and Metrology; JISM) 
 
1.   (u) Below is information on duties/taxes and customs 
procedures for information technology products and electronic 
commerce transactions for Jordan. Answers are keyed to questions 
reftel. Follow-up questions should be directed to Ian Campbell, 
Econ Section (CAMPBELLIP2(at)state.gov). Information source is 
indicated at the end of each answer. 
 
2.   (u)  QUESTIONS ON SOFTWARE/RELATED SERVICES IMPORTS: 
 
A.   Are Duties and taxes assessed on the Intellectual Property of 
the software or on the medium on which it is presented? Is 
customized software treated differently than packed software? 
 
All software products are subject to 13% sales tax.  Intellectual 
property is considered a service and is subject to 13% sales tax. 
(Source: Jordan Computer Society) 
 
B.   What are the customs duties and tax implications for software 
sold with updates where the full sales prices, including cost of 
updates, is shown on the original commercial invoice? Are 
duties/taxes paid on that amount? What happens when the updates 
are sent at a later date? Are duties/taxes applied again? If so, 
based on what value? How should information be presented on the 
commercial invoice for the original and subsequent shipments to 
avoid paying duties/taxes more than once on a single sale? 
 
Sales tax of 13% is applied on the sales invoice. The best way to 
answer the sub-questions is to see everything paid as sales tax 
upon importing a product. 
(Source: Jordan Computer Society) 
 
C.   Are software licenses classified in harmonized system 4907? 
Are import duties/taxes applied?  If yes, on what cost/price base 
are they levied? Are withholding or other additional taxes applied 
on software licenses? If yes, how are the taxes applied? 
 
Software is subject to 13% sales tax, and a fixed value inspection 
fee only. Software licenses are not subject to customs. 
(Source: Jordan Computer Society) 
 
D.   If a U.S. License Agreement is included in the packaging or 
is part of the installation/registration of shrink-wrapped 
software imported from the U.S., would the agreement be binding on 
consumers in your market? If so, would U.S. or local laws pertain? 
Definition of shrink-wrapped software: shrink-wrapped software is 
software that is packaged with a terms and conditions statement, 
ready for installation by the purchaser. 
 
As Jordan is enforcing its TRIPS-consistent Intellectual property 
Law, license agreements are binding to Jordanian customers. 
However, software censorship is still in effect in Jordan, and 
some software (FPP, and Shrink wrap) is opened and checked by the 
Censorship office of the Ministry of Information. 
(Source: Jordan Computer Society) 
 
E.   Are services (i.e. training, set-up, etc.) relating to the 
sale of software taxed? If so, at what rate and based on what 
value? (1) Are US information technology solution providers 
permitted to send personnel into the country to set up 
hardware/software related systems? (2) Are special visas/work 
permits and/or professional certification by an accredited body 
required? 
 
Services are subject to 13% sales tax. The value is based on the 
amount billed to the customer. 1) Yes 2) Invitation letter may be 
needed to obtain a visa. Certain limitations may apply on certain 
nationalities (regardless of the company they work with) 
(Source: Jordan Computer Society) 
 
F.   Are import taxes (VAT, etc) applied to software delivered to 
the end-user over the Internet? If so, are the taxes assessed on 
the intellectual value of the property? Would the situation be 
different if the is software were instead delivered to a 
distributor who has a license to produce (Replicate) and sell the 
software? 
 
All software and services are subject to sales tax regardless of 
the source (distributor, download, etc). However, the GOJ does not 
have an efficient system to monitor and tax downloaded software 
whether or not intended for re-sale. 
(Source: Jordan Computer Society) 
 
G.   Is post aware of any laws or efforts to regulate voice over 
Internet protocol (VOIP) services in your country? Please name the 
specific Law, Government Agencies with jurisdiction, and contact 
information. 
 
VoIP is regulated and is not currently available in Jordan. Jordan 
Telecom has exclusivity rights over all international calls, 
regardless of technology, until the end of 2004. The regulatory 
body is: 
Telecommunications Regulatory Commission 
www.trc.jo 
Tel. +962(6) 586-2027 
Fax. +962(6) 586-3643 
Ms. Muna Nijem - Chair of the Board of Commissioners 
Mr. Mahmoud Wreikat - Technical & Licensing Affairs 
Ms. Hoda Izz-Iddin - Head Of The Legal Department 
(Source: Jordan Computer Society) 
(Source: Information Technology Association - Jordan; INTAJ) 
3.   (u)  QUESTIONS ON CUSTOMS PROCEDURES RELATED TO IT PRODUCTS: 
 
A.   What are the documentation requirements for the physical 
import of software? For other information technology products? 
 
The Required Documentations are: Invoice, Certificate of Origin, 
and Customs Declaration. 
(Source: Jordan Computer Society) 
 
Jordan Institute of Standards and Metrology (JISM) does not have 
any standards specific to IT hardware and software products. JISM 
has a Labeling Standard applicable to all imports, including all 
IT products. 
(Source: Jordan Institute of Standards and Metrology; JISM) 
 
B.   What are the documentation requirements for the 
electronically delivered import of digitized products over the 
Internet or other networks i.e. software, movies downloads)? 
 
Not Applicable. 
(Source: Jordan Computer Society) 
 
C.   Is the import of refurbished computer hardware, parts, and 
accessories (including toner cartridges) permitted? If yes, what 
are the documentation requirements? Is special labeling required? 
What value should be should be shown of the invoice? How are 
duties and taxes assessed? 
D. Is the import of used computer hardware, parts, and 
accessories permitted? If yes, what are the documentation 
requirements? Is special labeling required? What value should be 
shown on the invoice? How are duties and taxed assessed? 
 
Yes it's permitted to import refurbished and used computers if 
import license is available. 
(Source: Jordan Computer Society) 
 
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has the following relevant 
requirements for importation of used and refurbished electrical 
equipment: 
1. To comply with approved Jordanian and International standards 
2. To be ready for immediate use without any further modification 
and to be compatible with Jordan's 220 volts electric grid without 
the use of transformers. 
3. Imported shipments should include new spare parts at a value of 
15% of the total shipment. 
4. A certificate either by the manufacturer or the authorized 
dealer at the country of export to accompany the shipment that 
stats that the equipment is not more than three years old; to be 
legalized by the exporting country's chamber of industry or trade, 
the Jordanian Embassy or Consulate and the exporting country's 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 
5. 1 piece per kind of equipment accompanying passengers for 
personal use are exempt from these requirements. 
(Source: Jordan Ministry of Industry and Trade) 
 
E.   Are duties and taxes assessed on the re-import of repaired 
computer equipment? How should the commercial invoice appear? 
 
Taxes will be paid on the Added Value. 
(Source: Jordan Computer Society) 
 
F.   Some companies allege that certain countries (such as Greece, 
and South Korea, among others) require that cross-border, 
electronically delivered software be accompanied by a physical 
shipment. Is this true for your country? If so, by what government 
agency (please give contact information), and how is this activity 
enforced (please specify the name of the appropriate law or 
regulation)? 
 
This is not applicable in Jordan. 
(Source: Jordan Computer Society)