REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Indonesian government has exempted scientific books from import duty and value added tax (VAT) as part of efforts to promote the country's education levels.
The import duty and tax exemptions also apply to general textbooks, religious books and textbooks, the Director General of Customs and Excise at the Finance Ministry, Agung Kuswandono, said in a circular, a copy of which was available on Thursday.
He said duty exemptions were given to the import of science and technology books, other scientific books, general and religious books and textbooks.
The import of scientific books was granted exemption from duty without prior approval from the finance minister or any other appointed official, he said.
Other genres of books, such as entertainment, advertisement, business promotion, catalogs (non-educational), horror, horoscopes, comics and art (such as painting reproductions), continue to be subject to import duties.
According to the circular, any individual or corporate body hoping to import general or religious books or textbooks will no longer require a VAT-free certificate from the director general of taxation to obtain VAT exemptions.
General textbooks, fiction and non-fiction books are needed to improve national education levels.
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