Skip to content

28/03/2020 News

PAYING INDONESIAN CAR TAX NOW HASSLE-FREE

Aside from making sure that driving license and vehicle registrations are valid, all vehicle owners are also subjected to vehicle tax payments. In Indonesia, tax is paid annually and every five years (to get renewed plate) through an integrated vehicle registration and payment service (SAMSAT).

First and foremost, car owners need to make sure there’s no unpaid traffic fines, which would result in your registrations deactivated – and tax payment failure. Resolve this issue by paying your fines immediately.

Once clear, relevant documents are required: ID, vehicle registration certificate (STNK), and ownership certificate (BPKB). If the car is purchased through a financing agent, the BPKB may be held until the owner completes loan repayment. In order to meet tax obligation, the car owner will need to request a BPKB proxy letter – copied and stamped – from the financing agent. It’s a simple process, although could be time consuming.

Once all documents are ready, the next step is to choose the payment channel. The conventional way still applies, i.e. to physically come to SAMSAT office, which now offers SAMSAT Drive Thru kiosk. Payment must be made directly by the car owner.

However, not everyone has the time to visit SAMSAT office. This takes us to the other, more practical channels that are available today.

The second channel is enabled by digital technology: online payment through e-SAMSAT app. Currently available for Android devices, the app is downloadable from Google Play. It eliminates physical presence and BKPB requirement.

Once inside the app, car owners simply need to follow the steps to register themselves and their vehicles to match with SAMSAT’s database. They’ll be notified if the data aren’t found, otherwise the app will generate vehicle data, amount to pay, and billing code. Finally, payment is made via bank transfer.

There are several things to remember. First, payment must be made within 2 hours – while the billing code is valid – or the entire steps need to be repeated. Second, payment must come from the car owner’s bank account as the person whose ID and STNK numbers are registered on the app. They may not use someone else’s account or use their own to generate payment for someone.

READ ALSO: 10 FUEL-SAVING TIPS

Lastly, vehicle tax can be paid the nearest convenience store. The procedure is essentially the same, but a store attendant will assist. He/she will need to have the original STNK and ID as well as plate, engine, and phone numbers to be registered.

The car owner will then receive information on payment amount. Upon payment, the store generates a printed receipt and the car owner gets an SMS containing ERI (Electronic Registration and Identification). Open the text to access a QR-code of payment proof. It can be saved or printed as seen fit. Either way, it’s a legitimate receipt.

One additional step is to get the payment proof validated and exchanged with a tax statement as well as to get STNK validated. Under the new online system, the validated registrations can be delivered via post. To be sure, car owners may also visit a SAMSAT office. Worry not, with the payment procedure completed, they shouldn’t need to wait too long to have their registrations formalized.

RELATED ARTICLES: