Number of Exit Tax Payers Fell to 70%
VIVAnews – The number of “fiskal” or exit tax payers immediately fell to 70 percent following the implementation of free exit tax policy by the Directorate General of Taxation as of 1 January 2009.
“Fiskal” or exit taxes are applied at the airport to those going overseas. However, as of 1 January 2009, the Directorate General of Taxation has implemented a new policy whereby certain categories of people are exempt from the much dreaded exit tax.
The decline occurred in a number of payment counters at Terminal 2 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Cengkareng, Tangerang. Despite the drastic decrease, passengers who do not fall under one of the exempt categories are forced to pay Rp 2.5 million (US$228.65), a significant increase from last year’s Rp 1 million (US$91.46)
Between 12am and 10am on Thursday, Jan. 1, the Bukopin Bank locket at the airport had only received payments from 60 people. Meanwhile, under normal circumstances, the number of exit tax payers reached 200 people per day.
"The busiest time is in the morning of first shift, because the flight schedule is packed" said a teller at the Bukopin Bank counter, Muhammad Ilham, Thursday, Jan 1. In fact, on a normal holiday, the number of exit tax payers can reach up to 300 people.
“This is quite a drastic decrease,” he said. Ilham admits that it has made his job relatively easier and more relaxed.
The Bank Mandiri exit tax payment counter also faced the same fate. Since it opened at 5am until 11am, there were only 50 exit tax payers. This is a sharp decrease compared to the usual 150 to 300 payers.
Head of the East Jakarta Regional Office of the Director General of Tax, Maizar Anwar, said that the decline is indeed the implication of the implementation of exit tax exemption policy.
The decrease is largely attributed to three categories that are exempt: those who already have NPWP, students, and individuals less than 21 years of age. Previously only the age limit was 12 years old.
"Until 10am this morning, there were 10 flights with 496 people exempt from the exit tax and 137 people who paid the exit tax," he said at Sukarno-Hatta Airport, Thursday, Jan. 1.
This figure, according to Anwar, would continue to change until the last scheduled flight at night. However, as the day went by flight schedules were becoming more infrequent.
Translated by: Ramona Sofianne Dewi Sasradipoera
Bukan Cuma Biar Adem, Tidur Telanjang Ternyata Bermanfaat untuk Kesehatan
Tidur telanjang tidak hanya membuat seseorang merasa nyaman dengan diri sendiri, tetapi juga menghasilkan tidur yang berkualitas.
