Jokowi Says The Government Will Be Responsible For Income Tax 21 For Media Industry For Half A Year

President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Photo: Setkab)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo said the income tax 21 for media industries will be borne by the government until mid-2021.

The taxes imposed from salaries, wages, honoraria, allowances, or other payments received by media employees, said Jokowi, will be paid by the government until June 2021.

"The government is trying to ease the burden on the media industry. Media crews' income tax has been included in the list of taxes borne by the government. This means that taxes are paid by the government and valid until June 2021", Jokowi said at the National Press Day event at the State Palace, Tuesday, 9 February.

Jokowi asked the Minister of Finance to help oversee the dependents of income tax 21 for media companies by the government. Then, Jokowi said that income tax 22 to the media would also be released.

Then, Jokowi admitted that he would speed up restitution and incentives. "The exemption of income tax 22 on imports, acceleration of restitution, and incentives is also valid until June 2021", he said.

Jokowi continued, the incentives given to other industries were also given to the media industry, including the exemption of electricity subscription.

"The relief and assistance given to the media industry and media crews is indeed insignificant. I need to say that the physical burden of the government is also in a very heavy position, in addition to being heavy in dealing with health problems, it is also heavy in driving the economy when the private sector is experiencing a slowdown significantly", he said.

Jokowi admits that he understands that the press, as a private business sector, is also facing difficult times during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as health and economic problems.

"I know that the press industry, like other private sectors, is also facing corporate problems, which also includes difficult financial problems", he said.