Customs And Excise Ensures Delivery Of Coffins From Malaysia Is Not Collected For Import Duty

Head of the Sub-Directorate for Public Relations and Customs Counseling, Encep Dudi Ginanjar said, coffins from Malaysia to Indonesia are not subject to import duties or taxes.

"It should be noted that for sending bodies from abroad to Indonesia, no import duties and taxes are collected in the context of imports," said Encep in his official statement, quoted Monday, May 13.

Encep explained that based on the Decree of the Minister of Finance Number 138/KMK.05/1997 concerning the Release of Import Duty on Imports of Pets or Other Packaging Containing Bodies or Ashes, it was stated that other coffins or packaging containing bodies or ashes were coffins or packaging regardless of the type or composition, which were used to store bodies or ashes for transportation purposes into Indonesian customs areas, given the exemption of import duties.

"As well as being given rush handling or immediate service for the import of coffins and corpses," said Encep.

Encep conveyed that rush handling or immediate services are customs services provided for certain imported goods whose characteristics require immediate service to be removed from the customs area, one of which is the corpse.

He said that currently Customs and Excise had contacted the person concerned to include proof of the bill, if there was indeed an import duty bill.

"If there is a bill during the handling of the coffin, it is better for the importer to confirm the details of the bill again to the cargo or agent handling the delivery of the corpse," concluded Encep.

Previously, the Special Staff (Stafsus) of the Minister of Finance Yustinus Prastowo opened his voice regarding viral news that coffins from abroad were taxed 30 percent.

He said, there were no levies like the ones that were widely discussed on social media X.

Prastowo said that the entire corpse service was served by the PIBK mechanism with the charge of zero rupiah levies, aka no import duty costs.

"There is no collection for the coffin. That there are costs / levies from the handling cargo of the corpse is the cost of managing the corpse (restaurant, ambulance, etc.), in which there is no Import Duty & Tax fee," he wrote on the X account @prastow, quoted on Sunday, May 12.

Prastowo admitted that he had coordinated with all relevant parties, including the Head of KPU Customs Type C Soekarno-Hatta Gatot Sugeng Wibowo to ensure the news of the imposition of taxes on coffins.

"We make sure there are no levies. We have also checked with the documents and communicated with the parties," he said.