TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Embasssy in Singapore has opened tax amnesty consulting service. The Director for Counseling, Service and Public Relations, Directorate General of Tax, Hestu Yoga Seksama said the program will be opened from August 8 to September 30, 2016.

“The service will facilitate Indonesian nationals in Singapore to participate in tax amnesty program,” Hestu said in a written statement, Wednesday, August 10, 2016. The Finance Ministry Regulation No. 118/PMK.03/2016 on Implementation of Law No. 11/2016 sets Singapore a designated location to receive statement letter on tax amnesty.

He explained that KBRI Singapore provides several tax amnesty consulting services, namely e-registration to obtain taxpayer identification number (NPWP), e-filing for annual income tax return, and it will receive statement letter and provide tax amnesty consulting.

Hestu said that tax consulting service in KBRI Singapore has been welcomed by Indonesian nationals in Singapore. “Many Indonesian nationals have came to consult or ask some questions about tax amnesty program,” he said. KBRI also opens consulting service via phone calls and emails.

The tax amnesty program has been effective since March 31, 2017. Hestu said the government provides an opportunity for all taxpayers to write off outstanding tax and get waived from the imposition of tax administrative sanctions as well as sanctions for tax evasion. “Taxpayers only have to pay some retribution charge on a very low rate,” he said.

Singapore is a haven to Indonesian evaders to hide their money. Singapore allows Indonesian businessmen to use various facilities to hide their wealth from tax obligation, such as transfer pricing, asset hiding, special purpose vehicle and capital flight.

President Joko Widodo himlsef had planned to disseminate tax amnesty program in Singapore.

ARKHELAUS W. | ISTMAN MP