Sleman earns increased tax revenue

YOGYAKARTA: Sleman Regent Ibnu Subiyanto said that the regency had enjoyed a some 12-percent increase in the property tax (PBB) earned in 2003, from some Rp 12 billion to Rp 13.8 billion in 2002, with Depok subdistrict contributing the most, some 40 percent of the total earnings.

Speaking in front of 86 village heads in Sleman regency on Thursday, Ibnu said that this year the government would increase the target -- for earnings from the same tax -- to Rp 17.3 billion, arguing that such an increase was important to improve public services.

The regency's property tax potential this year is Rp 3.7 billion from the rural sector and Rp 16.4 billion from the urban sector. "All tax, including PBB, will be returned to the tax payers. The one from hotels and restaurants, for example, will be used for developing tourism," said Ibnu, encouraging all heads of villages not to hesitate in collecting the tax from taxpayers.

Ibnu said that early distribution of the tax-payment notification forms would help the success of the tax office in carrying out its duty. It would also give it more time to correct wrong calculations or claims, and respond to complaints from taxpayers. --JP