Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The realization of tax revenue up to September 13, 2016 had reached Rp656.1 trillion, reflecting an increase of four percent compared to the same period last year when it had amounted to Rp631.6 trillion.

"The tax receipts included redemption money received from the tax amnesty program," Director of Potential, Compliance and Tax Filing of Tax Directorate General, Yon Arsal, said at a press conference here on Thursday.

He explained that the tax revenues consisted of non-oil income tax (Income Tax) amounting to Rp374 trillion and Value Added Tax and Sales Tax on Luxury Goods (VAT and Tax) amounting to Rp240.1 trillion.

In addition, oil and gas income tax revenue until mid-September 2016 had reached Rp21.5 trillion, Land and Building Tax (PBB) amounted to Rp15.2 trillion and other taxes accounted for Rp5 trillion.

"In general, VAT revenue still showed a negative three percent growth, compared to the same period last year when it had reached Rp246.6 trillion, because the realization of import VAT is declining," explained Yon.

Yon was optimistic that the tax revenue could approach the target projected in the draft 2017 revised state budget (APBN-P 2016), mainly banking on the redemption money received as a result of the tax amnesty program, which has been receiving a positive response from the community.

Earlier, the government projected a tax revenue shortfall of up to Rp219 trillion by the end of the year. Keeping that in view, a policy of slashing spending was put in place to ensure that the budget deficit should not exceed 2.5 percent of the GDP.

The shortfall was because the tax amnesty policy did not lead to repatriation of funds as per expectations which would have supported state revenues, let alone achieve the target of Rp165 trillion.

Until Thursday, September 15, 2016, the realization of the redemption money through the tax amnesty program had reached Rp21.3 trillion. In total, wealth and assets that were declared amounted to Rp528 trillion, consisting of Rp371 trillion worth of declaration of wealth at homec, Rp132 trillion worth of wealth in foreign countries and capital repatriation of Rp24.3 trillion.

(A014/INE)

EDITED BY INE.

Editor: Suryanto
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