Fadli and Eisya A. Eloksari
The Jakarta Post
A government decision to lower the tax threshold for imported goods has adversely affected small e-commerce businesses and jastip (individual wholesalers), sellers have claimed.
Dardani Nainggolan from Batam, Riau Islands, had planned to send emping crackers worth Rp 100,000 (US$7.33) to his relatives in Pekanbaru, Riau, but decided not to after considering the fees involved.
“After calculating the tax, I know that sending the chips was not worth it,” Dardani told The Jakarta Post on Friday. “The tax officers assumed the chips were worth Rp 150,000 and they charged PPN [value added tax] plus import duty. But in the end, I decided to cancel the shipment to my relatives.”