Property seized over tax evasion
Property seized over tax evasion
JAKARTA (JP): The West Jakarta Mayoralty confiscated several
pieces of property on Thursday due to the owners' failure to pay
taxes for three years, resulting in nearly Rp 150 million
(US$15,789) in losses to the city.
West Jakarta Mayor Sarimun Hadisaputra said the confiscated
property, consisting of a parcel of land and two small buildings
belonging to two separate companies, were seized because the land
and building taxes had not been paid.
"This is only the first day. We'll continue confiscating
property because there are some 35 more (places) in West Jakarta
with taxes that are unpaid," Sarimun told reporters.
One of the buildings seized, owned by PT Multi Murni, had
taxes of Rp 45,684,225 owing, while the second, belonging to PT
Insan Perwira Megah, had Rp 52,912,921 due in taxes. Meanwhile,
taxes amounting to Rp 39,502,293 have yet to be paid on a plot of
land belonging to businessman Abdullah Jufri.
"They have been delaying paying taxes for the last three
years. We have sent them warning letters, but they still don't
pay," Sarimun said.
"However, there are some parcels of land with unclear status.
So it is impossible for us to collect taxes," he added.
The owners of the seized property were not available for
comment on Thursday.
The head of the West Jakarta administration office, Mardani,
told reporters that officials had not faced any resistance from
the owners as the two buildings were sealed off early in the
morning before employees arrived.
"They might have expected this (confiscation) because we had
informed them earlier that we would be restricting access to
their buildings," he said.
He said his office initially planned to confiscate four pieces
of property on Thursday. "However, one of the owners, Arnold
Gultom, paid his outstanding tax of Rp 21 million on Wednesday
afternoon."
Mardani said his office would seize 35 more pieces of
property, consisting of private homes and small office buildings,
with overdue taxes worth Rp 3,086,580,903.
"The largest amount owing is for a building belonging to PT
Sinar Slipi Sejahtera, which is owned by former president
Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti Hardiyanti Indra Rukmana. Taxes
amounting to Rp 2.2 billion have not been paid on it for the last
five years.
"That building is our next target," Mardani said.
Other buildings due to be confiscated are the Permata Surya
Apartment in Cengkareng, the Timor car showroom belonging to
businessman Sugianto in the Tanjung Duren area and a building
belonging to PT Wisesa Pancoran in the Pinangsia area.
Article 39 of Law No. 9/1994 on Taxes stipulates that
offenders face a maximum punishment of six years in prison and a
maximum fine equal to four times the amount of unpaid taxes if
convicted of evading taxes. (dja)