Tax Amnesty Program Reaches Rp2 Trillion Per Day

Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung responds to reporters’ questions after a limited meeting on Tuesday (20/9), at the Presidential Office, Jakarta

Entering the third week of September, the implementation of Tax Amnesty Program as reported regularly by the Director General for Taxation to the President, Cabinet Secretary, and Minister of State Secretary showed a positive development.

“Director General for Taxation reported to the President, Cabinet Secretary, and Minister of State Secretary that the declared assets of taxpayers from the Tax Amnesty Program increases around Rp2 trillion each day. Perhaps, up until now, the amount reaching at least Rp1,100 trillion. It indicates that Tax Amnesty Program received a very positive response from the business world,” Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung told the reporters after a limited meeting on Tuesday (20/9), at the Presidential Office, Jakarta.

The problem is there is an assumption that the dissemination was too late, the deadline is short, and so forth. However, Pramono asserted that the President has not decided whether an amendment to change the deadline is needed or not because there are 3 periods, in September, December, and March.

“Because the program is currently being implemented, let us wait. Clearly, the Government provides facilities through the Ministry of Finance and the Director General for Taxation to assist participants who will declare or repatriate their assets abroad, when their administration documents are not complete,” Pramono added.

For example, if a person’s saving Rp100 billion in Singapore banks, he/she needs permission from the bank. The permission usually takes a long time to be issued, it can be a week or two. Therefore, Director General for Taxation will provide the facilities. Just report the amount without waiting permission from the bank. The administrative requirements could follow later.

“On the other hand, taxpayers with huge amount of money and hundreds of companies complained that they need more time to receive permission from the banks around the world,” Pramono stated.

According to Pramono, taxpayers only need to report their wealth, while the administration can be corrected later because the Government provides ease in tax amnesty. Thus, taxpayers can report their wealth and get facilities in September.

“Business players can get 2 percent for repatriating and 4 percent for declaring their wealth in September. The percentage will increase in December,” Pramono said. (DNA/ES)(RAS/EP/YM/Naster)