Help For Econo
Help For Econo
Help For Econo
34397
Ivan Yudianto
Faculty of Economics and Business
Universitas Padjadjaran
Abstract: This study aims to analyse the impact of tax incentives, namely tax holidays and corporate
income tax rates, on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Indonesia from 1981 to 2020. The sampling
technique used in this study was purposive sampling so that 40 samples were obtained from 1981 until
2020 of each variable, namely FDI inflows as the dependent variable, tax holiday and corporate income
tax rates as independent variables, and gross domestic product growth, inflation, and trade openness as
control variables. Analysis of the data used in this study is the method of multiple regression analysis.
This study consisted of two models, namely testing without control variables and with control variables.
The study results without control variables show that the tax holiday positively and significantly affects
FDI inflows. In contrast, the corporate income tax rate has a negative and significant effect on FDI
inflows. The study results with control variables show that the tax holiday positively and significantly
affects FDI inflows, income tax rates, and trade openness negatively and significantly affects FDI
inflows. In contrast, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth and inflation have no significant effect on
FDI inflows.
Keywords: tax incentives, tax holiday, corporate income tax rates, foreign direct investment (FDI),
gross domestic product (GDP) growth, inflation, trade openness
-$4,550 million in 2000. After that, foreign where inflows decreased to $ 4,542 million in
direct investment increased in 2008 and reached 2016 and then increased again in 2019,
the highest increase in 2014, which amounted amounting to $ 24,947 million.
to $ 25,121 million, but FDI inflows fluctuated,
$35.000.000.000
$30.000.000.000
$25.000.000.000
$20.000.000.000
$15.000.000.000
$10.000.000.000
$5.000.000.000
$0
-$5.000.000.000
-$10.000.000.000
In 1998, the OECD discussed the need for of Corporate Income Tax Exemption or
global attention regarding the publication Reduction Facilities as amended by becoming
through the publication of “Harmful Tax PMK Number 192/PMK/011/2014. The
Competition: An Emerging Global Issue”. government made changes to the provisions to
Competition in reducing tariffs also continues simplify and simplify the provision of tax
even though it is considered as one of the causes holiday facilities to foreign investors as stated
of the complexity of resolving the 2008 global in PMK Number 159/PMK.010/2015. A year
financial crisis (Dietsch, 2015). According to later, this regulation was again changed to PMK
the OECD (2019), in 2000, the average Number 103/PMK.010/2016, where this
corporate income tax rate in 94 countries was change was made to eliminate the processing
28.6%. About 18 years later, the rate was set at industry, the primary industry in Special
7%, so that the average corporate income tax Economic Zones (SEZ) pioneer industries that
rate was only 21.4%. Regionally, countries in obtain tax holiday facilities. The Indonesian
Africa still have relatively higher corporate government has revised the previous regulation
income tax rates than globally and in other to PMK Number 35/PMK.010/2018. The
regions. In developing countries, tax government considers two changes, namely,
competition is generally more focused on extending the period and increasing the number
offerings than drastically reducing tax rates of pioneer industries given tax rate cuts.
(Abbas and Klemm, 2012). Developing Within months of implementing the
countries often use tax holiday incentives to regulation, the Minister of Finance revoked
develop durable capital investment and direct PMK Number 35/PMK.010/2018 and replaced
long-term economic development (Mintz, it with PMK Number 150/PMK.010/2018
1990). concerning the provision of Corporate Income
In the framework of implementing Law Tax Reduction Facilities. The change is in
Number 25 of 2007 concerning Investment, the adding one pioneer industry, namely the digital
Indonesian government issued a tax regulation economy-related to data processing & hosting.
that regulates tax holidays in the Minister of The relaxation in regulations related to tax
Finance of the Republic of Indonesia holidays is carried out as an effort by the
Regulation (PMK) Number government. The tax incentives provided are
130/PMK/011/2011 concerning the Provision not strict and do not make it difficult for foreign
investors to comply with the previous investments. Third, for non-pioneer industries,
regulations regarding the criteria, procedures, tax holiday incentives can still be given based
and requirements for foreign investors on quantitative criteria for pioneer industries,
obtaining these incentives. Then in 2020, the and scoring is carried out to determine the
Minister of Finance again issued PMK Number granting of tax holiday facilities.
130/PMK.010/2020 and revoked PMK Number Indonesia’s investment value is lower
150/PMK.010/2021 as the government’s effort than other countries in the Southeast Asian
to improve the provision of this tax holiday region. Investors tend to be more interested in
incentive facility. investing in Vietnam than in Indonesia.
Based on the Ministry of Finance data, According to the Minister of Finance (2020),
as of October 2020, the realisation of the considerable value of investment entering
investments with a 100% tax exemption facility Vietnam is due to various facilities offered by
or tax holiday has only been 3 (three) corporate the local government, including fiscal policies.
taxpayers worth IDR 27.15 trillion. This In addition, the corporate income tax that
amount is only equivalent to 2.2% of the total companies must pay to the government in
investment plan that gets the facility, namely Vietnam is the smallest in the ASEAN region,
Rp. 1,261.2 trillion, which includes 82 which is 20%. The current corporate income tax
taxpayers. Entrepreneurs complain about the in Indonesia is 22%. However, in terms of tax
difficulty in obtaining these incentives in terms holiday incentives, Indonesia and Vietnam have
of licensing. On the other hand, when the policies that are not much different. The tax
government has facilitated licensing and holiday policy in Indonesia is quite progressive
provided tax holiday incentives, investors have because it is given for up to 20 years, while
not realised their investment. Therefore, Vietnam’s tax holiday policy can be extended
Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) plans for up to 13 years according to the type of
to revoke the tax holiday incentive for investment.
companies that are slow to realise an The country of Vietnam prioritises
investment in Indonesia. several sectors, including high-technology and
Several factors cause investors never to sectors that have significant social effects, such
realise their investments. First, the tax holiday as education, vocational, health, culture, sports,
incentive is one of the things that investors look and the environment. Likewise, in Indonesia,
at when investing in a country. Second, the the priority sectors are also almost the same,
ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, not only in namely vocational and education, so it can be
Indonesia but globally, which also affects said that Indonesia’s benchmarking is not too
investors, tends to rethink and prioritise different from Vietnam. According to the
essential steps to get through these times of former Managing Director of the World Bank
crisis. The tax holiday incentive is already (2019), Vietnam has a particular, fiscal policy
desirable to investors, but due to the Covid-19 for under-developed regions, namely cutting
conditions, it affects the industrial sectors in the corporate income tax rate by 3% below the
Indonesia (Ajib, 2021). usual rate of 17%. In fact, for very
According to Hestu (2020), the underdeveloped regions, a cut of up to half is
provisions related to the obligation of investors given, namely 10%. Meanwhile, in Indonesia,
to realise their investment a maximum of one there has been no reduction in corporate income
year after the tax holiday decision was set were tax rates as implemented by Vietnam.
triggered by the government’s desire to In addition to the tax holiday, a
encourage investors to realise their investments. reduction in the corporate income tax rate is
PMK Principle Number 130/2020 reviews three also needed to attract foreign direct investment
essential points in the process of granting tax inflows. The government is increasingly ready
holiday facilities. The first is the delegation of to implement a plan to reduce the corporate
authority to the Head of BKPM to grant a tax income tax rate, to maintain competitiveness in
holiday. Second, the addition of commitment attracting foreign investors. One of the reasons
requirements to start realising investment no for the low interest of foreign investors to enter
later than one year after the tax holiday or Indonesia is that Indonesia’s corporate income
reduction of corporate income tax is given. tax rate is currently higher than in Vietnam.
These points are made to guarantee that Although lowering corporate income tax rates
potential investors will immediately make is welcome, this policy can negatively affect
because lowering corporate income tax rates in investors will see good opportunities when a
Indonesia risks hitting state revenues. country’s economy proliferates.
Entrepreneurs want corporate income tax to The increase in returns on FDI was also
decrease to encourage investment, but this is a generated by the low inflation rate, in which the
dilemma for the government because it can “host country” was experiencing internal
pose a considerable risk to tax revenues. economic stability. Thus, countries with low
Reducing corporate income tax does inflation rates encourage foreign investors to
not necessarily become the correct answer to invest their capital because the nominal interest
attract investment in Indonesia because there rate decreases, and consequently, the cost of
are still several tax and non-tax issues that capital is low. The availability of capital and
hinder investment inflows in the country. This low-interest rates will maximise their return on
is evidenced by the 22% corporate income tax investment. Research conducted by Kassahun
rate, which is relatively moderate; even some (2015) and Fahmi (2012) found that inflation
countries apply a tax rate of up to 30%, positively affects FDI, where the country’s
including India and Japan. Meanwhile, the economic stability supports the FDI inflow.
United States is at 27%, and China, South The openness of the country’s trade
Korea, and Myanmar are at 25%, which is also affects FDI inflow, where the country’s
higher than Indonesia at 22%. Then, Indonesia economy allows or conducts international trade.
still has tax payment compliance problems. In This opens up tremendous market
addition, the reduction in corporate income tax opportunities. Kassahun (2015) explains that
rates does not guarantee a rapid entry of FDI; trade openness means the ability of a country’s
for example, Singapore, which has a tax rate of economy to open up opportunities to obtain
17%, experienced an average FDI growth of sources of funds from other countries’
only 2.6% during 2015-2018. Brunei’s average economies and the willingness to invest in other
FDI growth for the same period experienced countries. Research conducted by Fahmi (2012)
minus 163.48% with a corporate income tax found that trade openness has a positive effect
rate of 18.5%. on FDI, where the openness of a country to
The study results (Abdioglu, 2016 & open markets encourages export-import
Fahmi, 2012) found that the corporate income Based on this description, the authors
tax rate had a significant negative effect on FDI can identify problems including: (1) How is the
inflows. This indicates that foreign investors effect of the tax holiday on FDI inflows in
are encouraged to invest in countries with lower Indonesia. (2) How is the corporate income tax
income tax rates. Another study conducted by rate affect FDI in Indonesia. (3) How are the
Kassahun (2015) found that the tax holiday has effects of GDP growth, inflation and trade
a significant positive effect on FDI cash openness on FDI in Indonesia
inflows, then a low tax rate will increase after-
tax profit for investors. This policy of providing
tax holiday facilities, in the short term, will Literature Reviews
reduce state revenues in the tax sector. Eclectic Theory
However, the provision of a tax holiday is
believed to attract investors and create a The eclectic theory was first developed by
favourable investment climate for Indonesia. Dunning (1988). Based on this theory, there are
With the investment, it will form a multiplier three conditions that a company must meet if it
effect. engages in FDI, namely: 1) Ownership
The presence of FDI in Indonesia has Advantage, 2) Internalisation Advantage and 3)
an important role, one of which is a driving Location Advantage
factor in achieving economic growth and Ownership Advantage, Companies
maintaining sustainable development, must have a competitive advantage over other
especially in the manufacturing sector. companies that arise due to ownership of
Manufacturing or processing industries can tangible and intangible assets. These are also
generate significant added value in the known as ownership benefits, including rights
economic sector and contribute to GDP in to specific technologies, the power and size of
Indonesia. The study results (Abdioglu, 2016 & a monopoly, access to raw materials, and access
Van Parys, 2010) found that GDP growth has a to low-cost finance. Internalisation Advantage,
significant positive effect on FDI, where
policy affects FDI inflows and increases direct income taxes, including taxes on income
investment abroad, increasing a country’s net returned abroad (UNCTAD, 2000).
domestic income (OECD 2008).
Tax Holiday
Tax Incentive Policy Ismawan (2001) defines a tax holiday as a tax
exemption from the use of taxation imposed on
According to UNCTAD (United Nation, company profits and profits paid to
Conference on Trade and Development) in shareholders. A tax holiday is a type of tax
Prasetyo (2008), tax incentives are all forms of incentive often used by developing countries to
incentives to reduce the company’s tax burden encourage investment in a country (Easson and
to attract companies to invest in specific Zolt, 2004). This incentive is intended for
projects or sectors. The types of tax incentives companies that have just invested in a country
provided by a country to investors, including 1) and not currently operating companies. New
Reduction of corporate income tax rate; 2) Tax companies that receive tax holiday incentives
holidays; 3) Loss carry-forwards; 4) Investment will be given a specific period during which
allowances; 5) Investment tax credit and 6) Tax they will be exempt from the income tax
deduction on dividends and interest paid burden.
abroad. Regulations governing tax holidays in
Reduction of the corporate income tax Indonesia are regulated in Law Number 25 of
rate is one of the incentives provided with the 2007 concerning Investment Article 18
best approach to competing in tax policy where paragraph 5 regulates the provision of tax
lower tax rates can increase after-tax returns to holiday facilities which reads as follows:
investors (Shome, 1995). According to “Exemption or reduction of corporate income
Darussalam et al. (2015), the tax holiday is an tax in a certain amount and time can only be
exemption from the burden of corporate income granted to new investment which is a pioneer
tax, or it can also be in the form of reducing the industry, namely an industry that has broad
corporate income tax rate for companies that linkages, provides added value and high
make foreign investments in the country within externalities, introduces new technology and
a certain period. Loss carry-forwards are has strategic value for the economy national.”
incentives that allow a company to reduce its In addition, other provisions
future tax burden, i.e., reducing future profits governing the tax holiday facility are regulated
with current losses. Investment allowance can in the PMK Number 130/PMK.010/2020
be defined as a deduction from taxable income concerning the Provision of Income Tax
based on a percentage of new investment Reduction Facilities. New investment in
(depreciation). Investment tax credits can be pioneer industries carried out by corporate
divided into two, namely flat and additional taxpayers will receive a reduction in corporate
investment tax credits. A flat investment tax Income Tax imposed on income derived from
credit can be obtained as a fixed percentage of their primary business activities as stated in
the investment expenditure incurred by the Article 2 paragraphs 2 and 3 as regulated in
company in a year on qualifying or targeted PMK Number 130/PMK.010/2020 concerning
capital. Provision of Corporate Income Tax Reduction
On the other hand, additional Facility, namely the value of the new
investment tax credits can be obtained as a fixed investment is at least IDR 100,000,000,000.00
percentage of investment spending in a year by providing a reduction of 100% of the amount
over a moving average basis, for example, the of corporate Income Tax payable for new
average investment spending by tax-paying investment with a value of at least IDR
companies over the previous three years. An 500,000,000,000.00 and 50% of the total
increase in the dividend tax rate will make corporate Income Tax payable for new
investors less interested in expanding their investment with a value of at least IDR
investment. Therefore, this incentive is 100,000,000,000.00 and at most less than IDR
provided with the intention that this tax can be 500,000,000,000,000. Article 2 paragraph 4
discounted to maintain investor interest. These also explains the provisions on the period given
incentives are also usually combined with tax to an investment company with an investment
holiday incentives by exempting all types of
The results of the descriptive analysis show that was 8.904%, and the highest inflation rate
the average FDI entering Indonesia is US$ reached 77.63%, which occurred in 1998, while
6,895,271,721,598, and the highest is US$ the lowest was 1.68% which occurred in 2020.
28,666.3 million in 2020, while the lowest is The average trade openness ratio in Indonesia
US$ -4,550,355,286 which occurred in 2000. was 52.215%, and the highest trade openness
The average tax holiday recipient in Indonesia reached 96.186%, which occurred in 1998,
was 3.60, and the highest was 48 tax holiday while the lowest was 28.708% which occurred
recipients in 2019, while the lowest was 0 tax in 2020.
holiday recipients in 1983-1995, 2000, 2008,
2010, and 2016-2017. The average corporate Simultaneous Testing (F Test)
income tax rate ratio in Indonesia is 4.852%, and
the highest tax rate is 45% which occurred in The statistical test used to test this
1981-1983, while the lowest was 22% in 2020. simultaneous hypothesis is the F test. The F
table value used as a critical value in this
The average GDP growth ratio in simultaneous hypothesis test is 2.49 obtained
Indonesia, namely 5.523% and the highest from the attachment of the F distribution
growth reached 8.22%, which occurred in 1995, table with df1 = 5 and df2 = 34 (Table 2 )
while the lowest was -13.13% which occurred with a significance level of 5%.
in 1998. The average inflation ratio in Indonesia
Table 3. Results of Multiple Linear Regression Analysis (t-Test) Without Control Variable
Standardised
Unstandardised Coefficients Coefficients
Model B Std. Error Beta t Sig.
1 (Constant) 39722484315,337 5550212685,288 7,157 0,000
TAXHOL 345815427,675 107493430,024 0,338 3,217 0,003
TAXRATE -109882266927,994 17459836101,059 -0,660 -6,293 0,000
a. Dependent Variable: FDI
inflows and vice versa.
Based on the regression equation and table 3
above, it is known that the effect of the variable 2) The variable corporate income tax rate on
tax holiday and corporate income tax rates on FDI shows the information on the value of
FDI without involving the control variables t count, which is -6.293 smaller than t-
partially is: table, namely -2.026 (-t count < -t table)
with a value of Sig. 0.00 < 0.05 (α). This
1) the tax holiday variable on FDI shows the indicates that H0 is rejected and Ha is
information on the value of t count, which accepted, which means that the corporate
is 3,217, which is greater than t-table, income tax rate has a negative and
which is 2,026 (t count > t table) with a significant effect on FDI, where the lower
value of Sig. 0.003 < 0.05 (α). This the corporate income tax rate will affect
indicates that H0 is rejected and Ha is the higher FDI inflows and vice versa.
accepted, which means that the tax holiday
has a positive and significant effect on After doing multiple linear regression analysis
FDI, where the higher the recipient of the without control variables, it is necessary to
tax holiday will affect the higher FDI analyse with control variables as follow
Standardised
Unstandardised Coefficients Coefficients
Model B Std. Error Beta t Sig.
1 (Constant) 56791139142,315 7120849949,538 7,975 0,000
TAXHOL 231318329,629 103967039,534 ,226 2,225 0,033
TAXRATE -103774112677,099 16155382352,749 -,624 -6,424 0,000
GDP 35935135101,780 40892325010,852 ,135 ,879 0,386
INFLATION 27895676250,729 15605459572,298 ,348 1,788 0,083
OPENNESS -43627464291,665 12546293367,410 -,521 -3,477 0,001
a. Dependent Variable: FDI
Based on the regression equation and table 4 growth does not necessarily affect FDI
above, it is known that the effect of the variable inflows.
tax holiday and corporate income tax rates on 4) The inflation variable on FDI shows the
FDI by involving the control variables partially information on the value of t count, which
is: is 1.788, which is smaller than the t-table,
1) The tax holiday variable on FDI shows the which is 2.032 (t count > t table) with a
information on the value of t count, which value of Sig. 0.083 > 0.05 (α). This
is 2.225, greater than t table, which is indicates that H0 is accepted, which means
2.032 (t count > t table) with a value of Sig. that inflation does not significantly affect
0.033 < 0.05 (α). This indicates that H0 is FDI, where higher or lower inflation does
rejected and Ha is accepted, which means not necessarily affect FDI inflows.
that the tax holiday has a positive and 5) The variable of trade openness to FDI
significant effect on FDI, where the higher shows that the information value of t count
the recipient of the tax holiday will affect is -3.477 smaller than t-table, which is -
the higher FDI inflows and vice versa. 2.032 (-t count < -t table) with a Sig value.
2) The variable of the corporate income tax 0.001 < 0.05 (α). This indicates that H0 is
rate on FDI shows the information value of rejected and Ha is accepted, which means
t count, which is -6.424 smaller than t that trade openness has a negative and
table, namely -2.032 (-t count < -t table) significant effect on FDI, where the lower
with a value of Sig. 0.00 < 0.05 (α). This the trade openness ratio will affect the
indicates that H0 is rejected and Ha is higher FDI inflows and vice versa.
accepted, which means that the corporate
income tax rate has a negative and Coefficient of Determination Test
significant effect on FDI, where the lower
the corporate income tax rate will affect This test was conducted to measure how far the
the higher FDI inflows and vice versa. model’s ability to explain the variation of the
3) The GDP growth variable against FDI dependent variable. This study uses the
shows the information on the value of t coefficient of determination determined by the
count, which is 0.879, which is smaller value of R Square. This test consists of two
than t-table, which is 2.032 (t-count > t models, namely, testing the coefficient of
table) with a value of Sig. 0.386 > 0.05 (α). determination without control variables and
This indicates that H0 is accepted, which with control variables. The results of the
means GDP growth does not significantly determination coefficient test are presented in
affect FDI, where higher or lower GDP the following table
Based on the results of the coefficient of corporate income tax rates simultaneously
determination test without the control contributes 59.7% to FDI inflows, while the
variables in table 5. it can be seen that the R2 remaining 40.3% is the influence
value obtained is 0.597. This means that the contribution given by other factors not
variable receiving the tax holiday and examined in this study.
Based on the results of the coefficient of research conducted by (Setyo, 2020) which
determination test with the control variable in states that tax holidays have a positive and
table 6, it can be seen that the R2 value obtained significant effect on FDI. This indicates that the
is 0.715. This means that the variables receiving more companies or investors that are given tax
tax holidays, corporate income tax rates, GDP holiday incentives by the government the
growth, inflation, and trade openness higher the FDI inflows. Therefore, the state
simultaneously contribute 71.5% influence on needs to create a tax holiday incentive policy
FDI inflows, while the remaining 28.5% is the that can attract foreign investors directly by
influence contribution given by other factors providing ease of licensing and technical
not examined in this study provisions to eliminate investor doubts over the
uncertainty of the implementation of the tax
holiday so that more and more investors register
Discussion for this incentive.
The Effect of Tax Holiday on Foreign Direct The Effect of Corporate Income Tax Rates on
Investment Foreign Direct Investment
Based on the partial test results with the Based on the partial test results with the
regression model without control variables, the regression model without control variables, the
regression coefficient value for the tax holiday regression coefficient value for the corporate
is 345.815,427,675 and has a Sig value. 0.003 income tax rate variable is -
< 0.05 (α). This means that the tax holiday has 109,882,266,927,994 and has a Sig value. 0.000
a positive and significant effect on FDI. In < 0.05 (α). This means that the corporate
addition, the tax holiday variable also has a income tax rate has a negative and significant
correlation coefficient value of 0.401, which effect on FDI. In addition, the corporate income
means that the tax holiday has a fairly strong tax rate variable also has a correlation
relationship with FDI. Then, the results of a coefficient value of -0.696, which means that
partial test with a regression model involving the corporate income tax rate has a strong
the control variable, the regression coefficient relationship with FDI. Then, the results of a
value for the corporate income tax rate variable partial test with a regression model involving
is 231,318,329,629 and has a Sig value. 0.033 the control variable, the regression coefficient
< 0.05 (α). This means that the tax holiday value for the corporate income tax rate variable
involving the control variables for GDP growth, is -103.774.112.677,099 and has a Sig value.
inflation, and trade openness has a positive and 0.000 < 0.05 (α). This means that the corporate
significant effect on FDI, where the results are income tax rate involving the control variables
not different from the regression model without of GDP growth, inflation and trade openness
control variables. The results of this research has a negative and significant effect on FDI,
analysis are following the proposed hypothesis, where the results are not different from the
and the results of this study are supported by regression model without control variables. The
results of this research analysis are following has a weak relationship with FDI. The results of
the proposed hypothesis, and the results of this the analysis of this study are the same as the
study are supported by research conducted by research conducted by (Abdioglu, 2016), but
(Abdioglu, 2016; Klemm and Parys, 2011; different from the research conducted by (Van
Saidu, 2015 and Etim, 2019) which states that Parys, 2010; Klemm and Parys, 2011 and
the corporate income tax rate has a negative and Fahmi, 2012) which said in his research that
significant effect. inflation had a positive and significant effect. It
Countries that impose relatively low is different from the research conducted by
corporate income tax rates will attract more (Kassahun, 2015 and Setyo, 2020), which says
foreign investors to invest in the country (Insah, that inflation has a negative and significant
2013). This means that the higher the tax rate of effect on FDI. It means that a low inflation rate
a country will reduce the number of investors can attract foreign investors to invest, while a
who will invest in that country because a high high inflation rate causes the level of risk of
tax rate will reduce the number of profits from business failure to be also high so that investors
the company, so that companies will invest in are less attractive to invest in that country.
countries with low tax rates.