SYNOPSIS
Indonesia is a very important market for businesses and managers based in Singapore. It is the leading economy in Southeast Asia and destined to become one of the big economies of the world with its fast-growing young population, increasingly affluent consumers and the country’s tremendously rich resources. The popular president has been re-elected earlier this year, with an ambitious programme to improve the country’s infrastructure: new toll roads, air and seaports, hospitals, powerplants, telecoms facilities and pipelines will be built in the coming years. Furthermore, with a new government in place, it is commonly believed that foreign investors will be making substantial new or additional investments in the country in order to tap the growing consumer market and the relatively inexpensive work force. Many of these investors will be organising and/or managing these investments from Singapore. They will need a good understanding of the tax system in Indonesia and how they should structure their investments in a way that enables them to control and minimise the Indonesian tax cost.
This seminar will give you a good understanding of what you need to know when planning for Indonesian taxation. Mr de Ridder will explain in a practical manner a number of key aspects of Indonesian taxes and taxation in order to help you decide how to manage and structure investments in or from Indonesia. After discussing the various business forms generally available to foreign investors in Indonesia, Mr de Ridder will explain the basics of income tax for businesses and individuals, the various withholding taxes applicable to domestic and offshore payments and how VAT works in Indonesia, especially in relation to cross-border services.
Ample time will be devoted to explaining the importance of Indonesia’s tax treaties for foreign investors. Tax treaties are important tools, amongst others, to reduce withholding taxes (especially on dividends, interest and royalty payments, service fees and gains) and Mr de Ridder will address the measures taken by the Indonesian tax authorities to avoid abuse of Indonesia’s tax treaties. These measures have significantly affected the way how foreign investors hold and fund their investment in Indonesia. The discussion will also address how important it has become to ensure that transactions between related parties in a group satisfy Indonesia’s transfer pricing guidelines.
The seminar is conducted in an interactive manner and participants are welcomed to ask questions, comment and discuss.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Pieter de Ridder is the Managing Partner of the firm’s Singapore office and a member of the Global Tax Transactions and Consulting Group. Pieter was previously based in Indonesia and Hong Kong and has over 25 years of experience in Asia advising multinational companies and institutions with interests in one or more Asian jurisdictions on their inbound and outbound work.
His practice focuses on advising tax efficient structures with respect to direct investment, restructurings, financing arrangements, private equity, supply chain, intellectual property and real property structures into or from Asia.
Pieter regularly advises on the tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions, capital markets transactions, private equity, administrative actions and tax rulings, coordinating unilateral and bilateral advance pricing arrangements, tax incentive negotiations with investment authorities, maritime, structured finance, trade, contract manufacturing as well as regional property investment structuring. In Indonesia, he advises on direct investment and financing matters. He also regularly advises on investment and restructuring matters into India, including tax strategies vis-a-vis India’s General Anti Avoidance Rule, and his work involves advising on and coordinating tax matters for clients doing business in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and the Philippines. He is a member of the Think Tank of advisers to an Indian law firm in connection with the proposed Indian Draft Corporate Tax Code legislation.
Chambers Global (2015) notes that “Singapore-based Pieter de Ridder advises a wide range of Asian clients on a variety of tax mandates”. He is known for his "long-standing experience" in the Asian market and is a "trusted source of advice" on local tax planning and deals and listed as one of five most highly regarded individuals in Asia by The International Who’s Who Legal: Corporate Tax (2013).
FEES
a. Seminar fee
Seminar fee of S$175* (inclusive of GST) applies.
b. Group discount fee
Group discount fee of S$160* (inclusive of GST) applies if there are at least 10 participants from the same organisation.
c. SMU Alumni fee (for LLB / JD / LLM graduates)
Seminar fee of S$160* (inclusive of GST) applies for SMU LLB / JD / LLM Alumni.
*Please note that there will be no refund of any fees should the participant cancel the registration/ fail to attend the seminar. However, registration is transferable. Notice of any change in participant should be sent to the Academy via email: smulawacademy@smu.edu.sg, by 11 October 2019.
SMU School of Law reserves the right to cancel or postpone any event. In such case, we will arrange for the refund of seminar fees paid.
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