Customs Seals Four Foreign Yachts at Marina Beach

The Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) and the Directorate General of Taxes (DJP) of the Ministry of Finance have sealed four foreign tourist yachts at Pantai Mutiara, North Jakarta, suspected of violating regulations on import duty and tax exemption facilities in Indonesia. “From the preliminary examination, out of the six yachts we inspected, we have sealed four,” said the Head of Section II Enforcement of the Jakarta Customs Region Office, Siswo Kristyanto, in his statement on Friday (10/4). Siswo explained that the four yachts are foreign tourist vessels that received temporary import facilities, in the form of exemptions from import duties and taxes. He stated that the yachts were intended for recreational activities by tourists in Indonesian waters. “To date, there is suspicion that the facilities have been misused, with the yachts being rented out or already sold to Indonesian citizens, thereby avoiding import duty and tax payments,” he said. Siswo detailed that the four sealed foreign tourist yachts consist of two units from Malaysia and two from Singapore. Meanwhile, the two yachts not sealed had their administration checked and found to have been properly settled with correct customs documents. “We emphasise that the collaboration with our tax colleagues aims to explore and increase state revenue potential,” Siswo said. Siswo conveyed that currently, his side along with the Directorate General of Taxes is investigating the amount of state losses caused by the alleged violations of import duty and tax regulations on these foreign tourist yachts. However, he estimated that one small-sized yacht is priced around Rp10 billion. “We urge business actors to comply with regulations in both customs and taxation fields. We will continue to monitor foreign tourist yachts that we suspect and find to be in violation,” he stated. Meanwhile, the Head of Intelligence Section of the North Jakarta DJP Region Office, Pujiyadi, said that this collaboration will continue to be carried out so that the presence of luxury yachts provides benefits to state revenue. “I hope that the ownership and utilisation of these yachts can comply with applicable tax and customs laws and regulations in Indonesia,” he said. Previously, Jakarta Customs also inspected 82 private cruise ships or yachts currently in Indonesian waters and docked at Batavia Marina pier two weeks ago. The Head of the Jakarta Customs Region Office, Hendri Darnadi, stated that the inspection is to optimise state revenue from the circulation of luxury goods, eradicate the underground economy, and enforce fiscal equity for citizens. “Low-income people, MSMEs, even those buying motorbikes for their work, such as online motorcycle taxis, still pay duties and taxes, fulfilling their obligations on the motorbikes they buy. How can those buying high-value and luxury goods not pay according to their obligations,” he said.