Asian amnesties point to wealth of tax worries
Indonesia and India are both doubling down on efforts to lure back funds that citizens have parked overseas
Indonesia and India are both doubling down on efforts to lure back funds that citizens have parked overseas in places like Singapore. The stash, from the two countries combined, could amount to over $1.4 trillion based on various estimates from governments and think tanks. It will not be easy for countries to claw that money back but time is on their side.
Dictatorial governments and punitive tax rates have been amongst the main reasons individuals have squirrelled wealth overseas. These days, however, it is more a bad habit that deprives governments of much needed funds for development. Tax revenues amount to just 10% of gross domestic product (GDP) in Indonesia and 17% in India. That compares to a rate of 34% for Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries.
Indonesia is determined to address the gap. On 28 June, the country passed a tax amnesty bill that would charge a penalty of up to 5% on repatriated undeclared money. The last amnesty was three decades ago in 1984. Authorities are confident of a substantial windfall. The central bank estimates $42 billion will be repatriated over the next year or so.
India’s approach is less carrot and more stick. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made repatriating ‘black money’ a key pledge of his election campaign more than two years ago. Citizens now declaring funds are required to pay tax and a penalty that adds up to 45% of the money declared. The deadline to declare cash under the current scheme ends in September. The government is relying on a tough new law that can leave tax evaders with a lengthy jail term to encourage cooperation.
But Jakarta and New Delhi also have another reason to be hopeful too. From 2017, OECD countries have agreed to share information on foreign account holders with their home countries. That will make it much harder to hide cash. In India and Indonesia, at least, tax evasion may soon be a less popular national sport.
