Pricey Indonesian Tax for Overseas Travel to Expire Next Year

Dion Bisara & Ririn Radiawati Kusuma | October 24, 2010

Jakarta. The “fiscal” tax charged to Indonesian citizens traveling overseas will be a thing of the past next year after the policy expires on Dec. 31, a spokesman from the directorate general of taxation said on Sunday.

The tax, which was increased in 2009, was an attempt by the government to boost revenue by charging non-taxpaying citizens a fee for leaving the country.

Before 2009, all overseas travelers were compelled to pay the tax, known as a fiscal, of Rp 1 million ($112) before proceeding to their boarding gate.

Following a tax law that became effective Jan. 1, 2009, tax card holders were exempted from that fee, while those without a tax card had to pay a fiscal of Rp 2.5 million.

“Fiscal exemption would [now] apply to everyone at the airport,” said Iqbal Alamsyah, director of outreach and public relations at the directorate.

The provision, which was aimed at persuading more people to register on the tax rolls, has been hailed as a success.

The number of registered taxpayers increased by more than 5.23 million in 2009 to 15.9 million — the fastest annual growth recorded, data from the tax office showed.

But the airport tax provision is only valid until Dec. 31, and beginning in the new year, the government will cease collecting fees from travelers whether they are card-carrying taxpayers or not.

According to Iqbal, the abrupt ending of the fiscal policy will result in a loss of some Rp 39.57 billion in tax revenue next year.

“It’s roughly what we would lose next year,” Iqbal said.

But not all agree that ending the policy means less tax revenue for the government.

Tax analyst Darusalam said that if the government didn’t accrue revenue through taxes, it would get it through other means.

“In theory, a fiscal tax is an upfront payment of one’s income tax, so in the end the government will get their share,” Darusalam said.

Still, he acknowledged that the fiscal tax policy had been an effective tool in swelling the number of registered taxpayers.

“That was a good incentive, attracting more taxpayers, which in turn increased revenue,” he said.

“But from now on, the tax office is going to have to work harder to promote tax compliance. It may also impose more rigorous checking of individual tax reports to ensure that nothing escapes from the government.”

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/business/pricey-indonesian-tax-for-overseas-travel-to-expire-next-year/403043

Preliminary plans are to shoot "South Pacific" in Bali

New wave breaks in 'Pacific'
Producers plan fresh take on classic tuner
By DAVE MCNARY
'South Pacific'

So you've gotten the feature rights to "South Pacific," more than half a century after Mitzi Gaynor dazzled moviegoers in 1958's top-grossing film.

How in the world do you engage 21st century filmgoing audiences with a remake that, while still enjoying successful legit revivals, might seem a bit musty, to put it mildly?

Producers Ileen Maisel and Bob Balaban, who announced their rights deal on July 8, believe the key is to combine the fantasy world of the beloved Rodgers & Hammerstein songs with the gritty realism of wartime romance and racism. It's a tall order but the duo believes it's the path to a story that works for contemporary crowds.

Balaban, whose producing credits include "Gosford Park," and New Line veteran Maisel are meeting with screenwriters in the U.S. and the U.K. in hopes of finding a scribe who can execute that vision.

They won't go out to directors until they've got a completed script in hand.

"We want to show how people really did talk and act in 1944, which is something that the film and play don't come anywhere close to showing," Maisel notes. "What we're going to do is to make the songs the emotional underpinning of the story. So the songs will be the emotional ying to the realistic yang."

And unlike many modern musicals, the new "South Pacific" producers won't delve into the realm of magical realism. "This isn't going to be something like Martin Scorsese's 'New York, New York,' " Maisel notes.

Preliminary plans are to shoot "South Pacific" in Bali, home to some of the world's most spectacular scenery. But the new realism of "South Pacific" will only go so far, since Bali was occupied by Japan during World War II.

Balaban's Chicagofilms and Maisel's Amber Entertainment are the production entities along with Netherlands-based Imagem, owner of the Rodgers & Hammerstein copyrights. Maisel and Balaban will produce with Imagem chief financial officer Denis Wigman and Ted Chapin, president of the Rodgers & Hammerstein company.

Don't just beach bum in Bali

Wanderlust magazine:
Category: Lifestyle

Category: Lifestyle magazines

Title: Wanderlust magazine

Wanderlust travel magazine has issued some advice for those heading to Bali this year - don't just waste your time on the beach.

While the destination offers some of the most attractive seaside locations in Indonesia, the publication revealed that there is much more to see and do.

Popular beach spots include Kuta and Lovinia, but Wanderlust commercial editor Paul Bloomfield suggested that visitors shun these in favour of a trip inland.

He pointed to Ubud as a great place to visit for a "dose of culture", while the more intrepid traveller may also enjoy a hike around the central volcanoes.

The destination has enjoyed a 15 per cent rise in visitor numbers in the first three months of the year, according to Bali Tourism Board chairman Ngurah Wijaya.

He told a Tempo Interactive reporter that he expects Bali to profit from increased popularity as a result of the political instability in Thailand.

However, Mr Bloomfield said: "Bali isn't trying to be Thailand, despite similarities in the attractions for travellers.

"Culturally, it's a world apart from Thailand, being largely Hindu, and with distinctive art, music and architectural styles."

Posted by Arabella Gibson

Would you rather see the real Bali or sit on a beach?ADNFCR-2767-ID-19790746-ADNFCR

POSTED 12:00 AM 20/05/2010 0 comments