If you’re an Aussie expat living in Bali, you may be well aware of the fact that taxes for Australians living in Bali and your tax obligations generally, are a little complex.
Indeed, many expats mistakenly believe that they are exempt from Indonesian taxes or end up confused about payment deadlines. If you’re looking for a little guidance about your tax requirements as an Australian expat in Indonesia, we’ve put together some top tips to help you remain compliant.
Understand the difference between corporate and personal income tax
Foreign companies that are permanently based in Indonesia are liable to pay a corporate income tax rate of 25%. The personal income tax for an Aussie expat in the country is usually between 5% and 30%, and any income received by non-tax residents is subject to a 20% withholding tax.
Corporate income tax
Any Australians running companies within Indonesia must pay corporate income tax. The amount they have to pay will vary depending on business activities. In this way, it is important that expats keep stringent records of their finances and, in most cases, it is advisable that they hire a third party to take care of complex corporate tax issues.
Personal income tax
Aussie expats that fall within the category of Indonesian tax residents are required to pay personal income tax on their worldwide income (i.e. all income that they earn from all sources including all income generated outside of Indonesia). For an Australian to be considered a tax resident, they must be present in Bali (well, technically Indonesia actually) for at least 183 days of a 12-month time frame.
Non-tax residents that stay in the country for fewer than 183 days of a 12-month period are only required to pay tax on income sourced from within Indonesia.
Exemptions
Some expats are exempt from paying personal income tax. These include foreign consular and diplomatic personnel, employees of foreign armed services, representatives of certain international organisations.
Other tax requirements for Aussie expats
As well as paying corporate and personal taxes, Aussie expats in Indonesia must put money towards certain social security schemes. These include the compulsory healthcare scheme and something known as the manpower scheme.
For more information on tax issues within Indonesia or anything else about expat tax returns in Australia, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Expat Tax Services team today!
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