Finance, trade ministries to share online database
Finance, trade ministries to share online database
Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Beginning in August, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of
Industry and Trade will share information through an online
database under an agreement signed here on Wednesday.
Director General of Taxation Hadi Purnomo of the Ministry of
Finance said that the online database was aimed at exchanging
valid data on importation, exportation, customs, excise and
taxation.
"It's difficult at present to detect whether a person has paid
tax in accordance with his/her assets as we have no access to
banks to get information related to credit cards, money
laundering and savings accounts," said Hadi.
According to data collected by the Directorate General of
Taxation in 2002, out of the 84 million houses and plots of land,
only 9.5 million were listed in tax reports. Similarly, out of
28,519 luxury cars, only 615 were listed in tax reports, and out
of 18,948 companies, only 3,100 submitted audit reports.
The planned online database will enable the Ministry of
Finance's Directorate General of Customs and Excise and its
Directorate General of Taxation and the Ministry of Industry and
Trade's Directorate General of Domestic Trade and its Directorate
General of International Trade to share information on companies'
tax numbers, tax reports and business licenses.
"With the online database, we will be able to find out the
status of product importation, whether or not it is legal. We'll
also be able to find out whether or not a person or a company
pays tax," Hadi said.
Hadi said that the funds for the online system had been taken
from the state budget, but he refused to provide figures, saying
"I don't really know about the figure."
Minister of Finance Boediono said the online system was a move
to improve coordination between the two ministries.
"This system will allow all relevant officials to communicate
in depth without misunderstanding," he said.
He said a lot of parties tried to find ways to avoid paying
tax.
"But with this system, I'm optimistic that we will nail those
people," he said.
Minister of Industry and Trade Rini MS Soewandhi said the
online database was crucial as it could provide accurate and
transparent information and thus help the country keep the
industry in a healthy state.
"This system will enable us to capture illegal importers who
are at large and those selling products at lower prices and
creating unhealthy competition among businesspeople," said Rini.