TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said that she would investigate the tax and import duties of all imported books sold at the 2019 Big Bad Wolf (BBW) Sale exhibition.

Speaking at a coordination meeting in Jakarta on Tuesday, Indrawati claimed that she had not been able to deduce the current status of import income tax (PPH), value added tax (VAT), and import duties on imported books at the book exhibition, which was always crowded with visitors.

"I frankly say that we have to investigate, because there are so many. I also like the books, and I also pay attention to the books on sale," she noted, responding to the cheap price of imported books sold at BBW 2019.

"We`ll see how this whole practice will be," she added.

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In line, the Director General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) of the Ministry of Finance Heru Pambudi remarked that he would immediately check the provisions on import duties on imported books at the BBW Book Sale.

"I`ll check the report later," he stated.

As an illustration, the duty for imported books may get exemption if the book is a science book. This is in accordance with Circular of the Director General of Customs and Excise Number SE-16 / BC / 2013.

In addition, it was also explained that textbooks, scriptures, and religious textbooks received PPH and VAT exemption.

However, when alluded to taxes and import duties on books categorized as fiction, such as novels, Pambudi revealed that he would study them first.

"Yes, science is broad in definition, so I will check it later," he added.

ANTARA