Coal news and updates

Indonesia: new regulation applies final income tax to mineral and coal sales

To increase state revenue from the mining sector, the Government of Indonesia has imposed a new final income tax on any sale of mineral and coal, adding to the burden on the Indonesian mining industry. The new income tax, i.e. Article 22 Income Tax, is regulated under Minister of Finance ("MOF") Regulation No. 107/PMK.010/2015 regarding the Collection of Withholding Tax in Connection with Payment for Delivery of Goods and Imports or Other Business Activities. The regulation came into force 60 days after its issuance on June 8, 2015. This new regulation is the fourth amendment of MOF Regulation No. 154/PMK.03/2010 regarding Article 22 Income Tax.

Article 22 Income Tax, at the rate of 1.5%, now applies to any sale, either domestic or export, of non-processed or non-refined minerals (metal, non-metal and stone) and coal.  Exporters must pay the income tax to the state treasury through a post office, foreign exchange bank or any bank appointed by the MOF. Evidence of payment will be verified by the Directorate General of Customs and Excise as a required supporting document for the export notification and will be used as a basis to issue an export clearance.

This income tax is only applicable to holders of a mining business license (Izin Usaha Pertambangan). It does not apply to holders of a Contract of Work (Kontrak Karya) or Coal Contract of Work (Perjanjian Kerjasama Pengusahaan Pertambangan Batubara), who are subject to different financial obligations under their respective contracts.

Since it is a final income tax, this tax will be imposed on the gross income of the company without deducting any expenses incurred to produce, collect or maintain such income. This means that the company must pay the income tax even if the company is not profitable, since this tax is payable upon any sale of minerals and coal.

Income that is subject to final income tax cannot be combined with other income (which is subject to non-final income tax) in the calculation of income tax as reflected in a company’s annual tax return. Final income tax paid under this rule cannot be deducted against non-final income tax.

In an attempt to promote domestic processing and refinery activities, this income tax will not apply to any refined minerals or processed coal. Only minerals in the form of ore or concentrate and non-agglomerated coal are subject to the 1.5% income tax. Under current rules, only a few minerals (copper, iron, manganese, lead and zinc) are allowed to be exported not in refined form (only processed to a certain level). Other minerals cannot be exported unless refined as required under Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources ("MEMR") Regulation No. 1 of 2014 as amended by MEMR Regulation No. 8 of 2015.

The Government of Indonesia has made efforts to reduce the export of unrefined minerals by imposing complicated, lengthy and expensive procedures for such exports. Mineral exporters must first register with the Ministry of Trade to obtain a Registered Exporter Certificate for the Export of Mining Products (Eksportir Terdaftar Produk Pertambangan). This certificate is valid for three years but may be extended an unspecified number of times. To obtain the certificate, the exporter must obtain an approval from the Directorate General of Mineral and Coal ("DGMC"). 

Another approval from the DGMC is required for the export of unrefined (processed) minerals. This approval is only valid for six months and may be extended. Before any mining products are exported they must first be verified and approved by a Ministry of Trade-registered surveyor to ensure they have been processed/refined to the required standard.

In addition, the export of unrefined (processed) minerals is subject to a very high export tax rate. The export tax rate in 2015 has ranged from 30% to 40% which is scheduled to increase to 50% to 60% as of January 1, 2016 until January 12, 2017.  As of January 12, 2017, under current rules, only refined minerals can be exported.

source: http://coalspot.com