Sutiyoso wants tax amnesty

Sutiyoso wants tax amnesty

JAKARTA: Governor Sutiyoso insisted that he would stick to the
plan to write off unpaid taxes worth Rp 14.59 billion (US$1.5
million) as they had essentially become bad debts.

"The write-off can be done for delinquent taxpayers, whose
payments have been overdue more than five years," Sutiyoso said,
referring to Bylaw No. 4/2002 on city finances.

The bylaw, Sutiyoso added, also rules that the write-off could
be carried out on several conditions, for example, as delinquent
taxpayers had passed away or had been declared bankrupt by a
court.

Councillor Radja Natal Sitinjak of the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction opposed the plan, urging the
administration to do its utmost to collect the taxes.

Similarly, another councillor Gandhi Sulhani of the Golkar
Party faction told the administration to investigate each case
thoroughly to prevent corrupt officials from taking benefits.
--JP