The value of fiscal incentives given had totaled Rp799 billion of the value of imported goods of Rp4 trillionJakarta (ANTARA) - The Directorate General of Customs and Excise at the Ministry of Finance recorded the realization of fiscal incentives from medical equipment imports at Rp799 billion for the March 2020-July 2021 period.
"The value of fiscal incentives given had totaled Rp799 billion of the value of imported goods of Rp4 trillion," the Ministry of Finance noted in an official statement on Thursday.
The types of medical equipment imported the most comprised PCR reagents, ventilators, hazardous material suits, medicines, In Vitro machines (lab tests), media transfer viruses, as well as surgical, non-surgical, and N95 masks.
The types of goods that are eligible for incentives are based on input from the Ministry of Health and coordinated with the relevant ministries and institutions through emphasis on meeting the needs and ensuring availability of domestic producers.
At the onset of the pandemic, customs incentives were offered for 73 types of goods according to PMK 34/PMK.04/2020 that were edited several times, with the last being for 26 groups of goods according to PMK 92/PMK.04/2021.
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For instance, customs incentives were offered for the PCR test since March 2020 until now and is expected to fulfill needs at low prices.
Others related to the PCR Swab testing process that are also given customs incentives include PCR test reagents, Swabs, Virus Transfer Media, and In Vitro Diagnostic Equipment.
For the PCR test reagent, the total import duty (BM) and import tax (PDRI) granted for the period from January 1 to August 14, 2021, amounted to Rp366.76 billion.
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The realization comprised fiscal facilities in the form of BM exemption of Rp107 billion, Rp193 billion of uncollected Value-Added Tax (PPN), and Income Tax Article 22 exempted from levies to the tune of Rp66 billion.
Since the start of July 2021, facilities for the imports of oxygen, oxygen concentrators, oxygen generators, oxygen cylinders, and oxygen regulators have also been exempted owing to increasing demand due to the escalation of cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19.
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In addition to fiscal incentives, procedural incentives are also offered in the form of accelerating the release of imported goods and simplification of import trading system licensing provided by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) by submitting an electronic application through the Online Single Submission on the www.insw.go.id page.
The Ministry of Finance also provides customs incentives to support the fulfillment of medical equipment requirements in the form of incentives for medicines using the State-Budget funds for the public through PMK 102/PMK.04/2007.
The government has also supported the pharmaceutical and medical device industry sector by exempting import duty according to the PMK 68/PMK.10/2021.
The same policy is also applied in importing central and regional government facilities for the public use through PMK 171/PMK.04/2019, importing grants/gifts for worship/charity/social use through PMK 70/PMK.04/2012, as well as facilities for importing COVID-19 vaccines through PMK 188/PMK.04/2020.
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Translator: Astrid H, Resinta S
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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