Fees and Professional Licensing Law
Interpretation of Article 3(b) of the Jordanian Universities Additional Fees Law
This summary presents the Diwan for the Interpretation of Laws’ ruling on whether Article 3(b) of the Universities Additional Fees Law applies to licenses issued by the Land and Survey Department for real estate offices and surveying offices. The Diwan concluded that Article 3(b) applies both to initial licensing and to renewals, based on the related regulatory texts.
Updated: 19 December 2021
Prepared and reviewed by: Ashraf Al-Khawaja
Scope of Application
The matter addressed whether licenses issued under the Regulations organizing the surveying profession and the regulations for real estate offices—adopted under powers granted to the Cabinet—fall within the taxpayers covered by Article 3(b) of the Additional Fees Law. The Diwan ruled that those licenses are subject to Article 3(b) both at initial issuance and at renewal.
Legal Basis and Methodological Considerations
The interpretation relied on Article 3(b), which imposes an additional fee equal to half of the primary fee set by special laws on professional fees and office service fees, and on the regulatory texts for surveying and real estate offices that establish licensing conditions and fees. Accordingly, the fees set by those regulations were treated as fees prescribed by the applicable special law and thus fall within Article 3(b)’s ambit.
Practical and Procedural Effects
Practically, the ruling means the competent authority must collect the additional fee upon issuance or renewal of the specified licenses, and payment is a condition for issuing or renewing those licenses within its competence. The regulations themselves set the primary fees which serve as the basis for calculating the additional half-fee provided by the Additional Fees Law.
Limits of the Interpretation and Review Precautions
The ruling is an interpretation of the texts then in force and applies to the cited provisions; it does not replace verification of the currently effective texts or any subsequent amendments. Later legislative or regulatory changes, or differing administrative practices, may affect whether the fee is payable, so review of up‑to‑date provisions and their practical application by the competent authority is required.
Legal notice
Notice: This summary is for general educational purposes and does not substitute for specialized legal advice. The original source is linked on the referenced page; verify the currently effective texts, any amendments and relevant dates before taking action, and consult a licensed Jordanian lawyer for tailored legal advice.
Sources and references
Verify the official text and latest amendments before relying on this material professionally.