Tax Evasion and Avoidance Tackled in Workshop

An inside overview to the taxation system and tax evasion crimes in Palestine were discussed, on April14, 2016, in a one-day workshop addressed by the Head of the Economic Crimes Department Najat Briki and organized by the Faculty of Law and Public Administration at Birzeit University.  Briki gave a brief on the tax evasion phenomenon in Palestine, and emphasized on the importance of knowing the mechanism of dealing with tax dodgers and the role of tax departments in combating this issue.  “ This workshop aims to familiarize participants with different approaches and measures tax authorities can use to effectively combat and reduce the scope of tax evasion and avoidance activities.”“The Taxation system in Palestine is part of the fiscal policies that were imposed by the Israeli occupation and fostered by Paris Protocol on Economic Relations that was signed in 1994”, Briki added. “ The Palestinian Authority established a modern tax system under the umbrella of the Customs and Monetary Union and adopted Israel’s single tax’s  rates and its custom duties and excises with limited flexibility.”Briki discussed the importance of a taxation system in a country, which contributes in building a balanced economy and equal distribution of incomes.This workshop is part of the European Project for developing two master’s degree programs in the Criminal Law, in coordination with An- Najah National University and Al-Quds University, and the Law and Economics.