Comparative Study of Tax Incentives in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the United States of America to Support Research and Development

Authors

  • Meilani Meilani Universitas Pelita Harapan
  • Irwanto Irwanto Universitas Pelita Harapan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19166/jam.v6i2.538

Keywords:

tax, incentives

Abstract

Studies found that R&D help promoting a country’s economic growth. It is important for Indonesia to consider this as a long-run solution to escape middle-income trap since Indonesia’s R&D spending has been below 1% every year. Further studies call for tax incentives as a solution to this problem.  The purpose of this study is to compare different tax incentives schemes for R&D, along with giving recommendation to implement those. The approach in this study is qualitative descriptive method with literature review and secondary data.

Indonesia provides R&D incentives as additional incentives to other schemes such as investment incentive schemes. However, a new regulation has been formed, PP No. 45 Tahun 2019, to provide R&D based tax incentives which gives 300% deduction on eligible R&D expenses. Yet, the eligibility has not been issued until now. R&D based tax incentive schemes in Malaysia have come to a fruitful success for its brink to reaching high-income country status. Malaysia provides 200% deduction for eligible R&D expenses, tax holiday and investment tax allowance for R&D companies and in-house R&D. Contrarily, the US treat eligible R&D expenses as deductible expenses and give tax credit of 20% or below, determined by historical financial data. This study concludes that Indonesia should define R&D for tax purpose, quickly assess which industry and activities are eligible for 300% super deduction and take Malaysia as an example in the assessment. Finally, Malaysia should slowly reduce unfavourable tax incentives, which are losing potential income, and give other tax incentives which can be a win-win solution to both parties.

 

Keywords: Tax. Incentives, Research and Development, Innovation, Economic Growth, Indonesia, Malaysia, the United States of America.

References

ACCA. (2018, March 31). Tax Incentives for Research and Development in Malaysia. Retrieved October 2019, from ACCA: Think Ahead: https://www.accaglobal.com/ubcs/en/student/exam-support-resources/professional-exams-study-resources/p6/technical-articles/incentives.html
AlliantGroup. (n.d.). History of the R&D Tax Credit: How the R&D Tax Credit Evolved to be the Most Powerful Incentive for U.S. Businesses. Retrieved March 2020, from Alliantgroup: https://www.alliantgroup.com/services/r-d-tax-credit-2/evolution-of-the-rd-tax-credit/
Arezki, R., Fan, R. Y., & Nguye, H. (2019). Technology Adoption and the Middle-Income Trap. Policy Research Working Paper 8870.
Badan Pusat Statistik. (2017, February 7). [2010 Version] Y on Y Growth Rate of Gross Domestic Product by Industrial Origin (Percent) 2014-2016. Retrieved from Badan Pusat Statistik Indonesia: https://www.bps.go.id/dynamictable/2016/08/05/1216/-seri-2010-laju-pertumbuhan-y-on-y-produk-domestik-bruto-menurut-lapangan-usaha-persen-2014-2016.html
Badan Pusat Statistik. (2019, November 6). [2010 Version] Y on Y Growth Rate of Gross Domestic Product by Industrial Origin (Percent), 2017 - 2019. Retrieved from Badan Pusat Statistik Indonesia: https://www.bps.go.id/dynamictable/2017/05/05/1255/-seri-2010-laju-pertumbuhan-y-on-y-produk-domestik-bruto-menurut-lapangan-usaha-persen-2017---2019.html
Bal, A. (2012). Competition for R&D tax incentives in the European Union – how an optimal R&D system shall be designed. Retrieved from Transnational Transaction Network: https://www.ttn-taxation.net/pdfs/prizes/AleksandraBalEssay2012.pdf
Bappenas. (2019). Rancangan Rencana Pembangunan Jangka Menengah Nasional (RPJMN) 2020 - 2024. Jakarta, Indonesia: Kementerian Perencanaan Pembangunan Nasional.
Blanco, L., Prieger, J., & Gu, J. (2013, November). The Impact of Research and Development on Economic Growth and Productivity in the US States. School of Public Policy Working Papers, Paper 48.
Cherif, R., & Hasanov, F. (2015, June). The Leap of the Tiger: How Malaysia Can Escape the Middle-Income Trap. IMF Working Paper, WP/15/131.
Cornell Law School. (n.d.). Income Taxes. Retrieved from Legal Information Institute: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/26/1.174-2
Department of Statistics Malaysia. (2020, February 12). Malaysia Economic Performance Fourth Quarter 2019. Retrieved from Department of Statistics Malaysia: https://www.dosm.gov.my/v1/index.php?r=column/cthemeByCat&cat=100&bul_id=WWk2MDA3R1k1SlVsTjlzU3FZcjVlUT09&menu_id=TE5CRUZCblh4ZTZMODZIbmk2aWRRQT09#
Eggink, M. E. (2011). The Role of Innovation in Economic Development. University of South Africa. Pretoria: University of South Africa.
Ernst & Young. (2019). Worldwide R&D Incentives Reference Guide 2019. EYGM Limited.
European Central Bank. (2017, June 27). How does innovation lead to growth? Retrieved from European Central Bank: https://www.ecb.europa.eu/explainers/tell-me-more/html/growth.en.html
Goehle, B., & Chwalik, R. (2018). The Global Innovation 1000 Study. Retrieved from Strategy&: Part of the PwC Network: https://www.strategyand.pwc.com/gx/en/insights/innovation1000.html#VisualTabs1
Holtzman, Y. (2017, October). U.S. Research and Development Tax Credit. Retrieved from CPA Journal: https://www.cpajournal.com/2017/10/30/u-s-research-development-tax-credit/
Indonesia. (1990, July 14). Keputusan Menteri Keuangan Republik Indonesia Nomor 769/KMK.04/1990: Perlakuan Perpajakan atas Biaya Penelitian dan Pengembangan (Research And Development) yang Dilakukan oleh Perusahaan. Jakarta. Retrieved from Ortax: https://ortax.org/ortax/?mod=aturan&page=show&id=496
Indonesia. (2008). Undang-undang Nomor 36 Tahun 2008 tentang Pajak Penghasilan. Jakarta.
Indonesia. (2009). Undang-undang Nomor 16 Tahun 2009 tentang Ketentuan Umum Perpajakan . Jakarta.
Indonesia. (2015). Peraturan Direktur Jenderal Pajak Nomor PER-31/PJ/2015 tentang Tata Cara dan Prosedur Pemungutan Pajak Penghasilan Pasal 22 Sehubungan Dengan Pembayaran Atas Penyerahan Barang dan Kegiatan di Bidang Impor atau Kegiatan Usaha di Bidang Lain. Jakarta.
Indonesia. (2015). Peraturan Menteri Keuangan Nomor. 169/PMK.010/2015 tentang Penentuan Besarnya Perbandingan Antara Utang dan Modal Perusahaan untuk Keperluan Penghitungan Pajak Penghasilan. Jakarta.
Indonesia. (2019, June). Peraturan Pemerintah Republik Indonesia Nomor 45 Tahun 2019 Tentang Perubahan Atas Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 94 Tahun 2010 tentang Penghitungan Penghasilan Kena Pajak dan Pelunasan Pajak Penghasilan dalam Tahun Berjalan. Jakarta. Retrieved from PAJAK: https://www.pajak.go.id/sites/default/files/2019-07/PP_Nomor_45_Tahun_2019.pdf
Indonesia. (2019). Peraturan Pemerintah Republik Indonesia Nomor 78 Tahun 2019: Fasilitas Pajak Penghasilan untuk Penanaman Modal di Bidang-Bidang Usaha Tertentu dan/atau Di Daerah-Daerah Tertentu. Jakarta.
Investopedia. (2019, November 21). Top 25 Developed and Developing Countries. Retrieved from Investopedia: https://www.investopedia.com/updates/top-developing-countries/
Isaacson, W. (2019, January 3). How America Risks Losing Its Innovation Edge. Retrieved from TIME: https://time.com/longform/america-innovation/
Jessika. (2018). Tax Incentives and Fiscal Support to Encourage Innovation and Technological Advancement: A Comparative Study. Medan: Universitas Pelita Harapan.
Kementerian Riset dan Teknologi. (2018, January 17). Pengembangan Iptek dan Pendidikan Tinggi di Era Revolusi Industri 4.0. Retrieved from Kementerian Riset dan Teknologi / Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional Read: https://www.ristekdikti.go.id/kabar/pengembangan-iptek-dan-pendidikan-tinggi-di-era-revolusi-industri-4-0-2/
Kurniati, D. (2020, February 5). Soal PMK Super Tax Deduction Kegiatan Riset, ini Kata Sri Mulyani. Retrieved from DDTC News: https://news.ddtc.co.id/soal-pmk-supertax-deduction-ini-kata-sri-mulyani-18783?page_y=798
Kurniati, D. (2020, February 5). Soal PMK Super Tax Deduction Kegiatan Riset, Ini Kata Sri Mulyani. Retrieved from DDTC News: https://news.ddtc.co.id/soal-pmk-super-tax-deduction-kegiatan-riset-ini-kata-sri-mulyani-18783
Kurniati. (2020, June 26). Pemerintah: Riset Bareng Asing Tetap Dapat Super Tax Deduction. Retrieved from DDTC News: https://news.ddtc.co.id/pemerintah-riset-bareng-asing-tetap-dapat-super-tax-deduction-21902?page_y=1590
Larson, G., Loayza, N., & Woolcock, M. (2016, March). The Middle-Income Trap: Myth or Reality? Research & Policy Briefs from World Bank Malaysia Hub. Retrieved from World Bank Hub Malaysia: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/965511468194956837/pdf/104230-BRI-Policy-1.pdf
Lemanowicz, M. (2015). Innovation In Economic Theory And The Development Of Economic Thought. Oeconomia, 61-70.
Lumbangaol, H. E., & Pasaribu, E. (2018). Eksistensi dan Determinan Middle Income Trap di Indonesia. Jurnal Ekonomi & Kebijakan Publik, 83-97.
Macagno, F. (2010). Definitions in Law. Bulletin suisse de linguistique appliquée, 199-217.
Mardiasmo. (2018). Perpajakan. Yogyakarta: Andi Publisher.
OECD. (2010, November). R&D Tax Incentives: Rationale, Design, Evaluation. Retrieved from OECD: https://www.oecd.org/sti/ind/46352862.pdf
OECD. (2015). Frascati Manual 2015: Guidelines for Collecting and Reporting Data on Research and Experimental Development. Paris: OECD Publishing.
OECD. (2015). Oslo Manual 2015: The Measurement of Scientific and Technological Activities. Paris.
OECD. (2019, July). OECD Economic Survey: Malaysia. Retrieved from OECD: http://www.oecd.org/economy/surveys/Malaysia-2019-OECD-economic-survey-overview.pdf
OECD. (2019, November). Measuring Tax Support for R&D and Innovation. Retrieved from OECD: http://www.oecd.org/sti/rd-tax-stats.htm
Ognyanova, D. (2017, September). R&D Tax Incentives: How to make them most effective? Retrieved from European Commission: https://rio.jrc.ec.europa.eu/en/file/11226/download?token=ZCbqfH47
Pece, C. (2019, June 17). Federal R&D Obligations Increase an Estimated 2.7% in FY 2018. Retrieved from National Science Foundation: https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/2019/nsf19321/
Perskin, D. H., Rasiah, R., & Woo, W. T. (2017, August 31). Explaining Malaysia's Past Economic Growth and Future Prospects. Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia Working Paper Series, 2. Retrieved from Economic History Malaya: https://www.ehm.my/publications/articles/malaysia-the-challenge-of-avoiding-the-middle-income-trap
Petrin, T. (2018). A literature review on the impact and effectiveness of government support for R&D and innovation. European Union Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation.
Pricewaterhouse Coopers. (2020, January 13). Worldwide Tax Summaries. Retrieved from PWC: https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/malaysia/corporate/tax-credits-and-incentives
Pricewaterhouse Coopers. (n.d.). Worldwide Tax .
Putera, A. D. (2018, May 8). Insentif Tak Menarik, Perusahaan Pilih Riset di Luar Indonesia Artikel ini telah tayang di Kompas.com dengan judul "Insentif Tak Menarik, Perusahaan Pilih Riset di Luar Indonesia", https://ekonomi.kompas.com/read/2018/05/08/152547526/insentif-tak-menarik. Retrieved from Kompas: https://ekonomi.kompas.com/read/2018/05/08/152547526/insentif-tak-menarik-perusahaan-pilih-riset-di-luar-indonesia
Radu, S. (2018, November 9). The Big Spenders in Research and Development. Retrieved from US News: https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2018-11-09/these-countries-are-the-top-spenders-on-research-and-development
Rashkin, M. D. (2007). Practical Guide to Research and Development Tax Incentives: Federal, State, and Foreign. Chicago: CCH.
Resmi, S. (2017). Perpajakan: Teori dan Kasus. Jakarta: Salemba Empat.
Roughneen, S. (2018, December 21). Malaysia on track to developed country status, but has far to go. Retrieved from Nikkei Asian Review: https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Malaysia-on-track-to-developed-country-status-but-has-far-to-go
Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2016). Research Methods for business. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Sitepu, E. M. (2014). Tax Incentives and Fiscal Support to Encourage Innovation and Technological Advancement: A Comparative Study. Journal of S&T Policy and R&D Management, 12(2), 125-138.
Suandy, E. (2008). Perencanaan Pajak: Edisi Empat. Jakarta: Penerbit Salemba Empat.
Sukmana, Y. (2019, July 16). Menurut Sri Mulyani, Ini Syarat RI Keluar dari Middle Income Trap Artikel ini telah tayang di Kompas.com dengan judul "Menurut Sri Mulyani, Ini Syarat RI Keluar dari Middle Income Trap", https://money.kompas.com/read/2019/07/16/154600826/menurut-sri-muly. Retrieved from Kompas: https://money.kompas.com/read/2019/07/16/154600826/menurut-sri-mulyani-ini-syarat-ri-keluar-dari-middle-income-trap
Technology Tax. (n.d.). Alternative Simplified Credit. Retrieved from Research Tax Credit: https://www.technologytax.com/research-tax-credit/alternative-simplified-credit/
Technology Tax. (n.d.). The Research Tax Credit. Retrieved from Research Tax Credit: https://www.technologytax.com/research-tax-credit/research-tax-credit/
Teo, M., Loo, A., & Leong, D. K. (2019). Returns to Research and Development (R&D) among firms in Singapore. Economic Survey of Singapore Third Quarter 2019, 42-50.
The World Bank. (2020). World Bank Country and Lending Groups. Retrieved February 2020, from The World Bank: https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/906519-world-bank-country-and-lending-groups
The World Bank. (n.d.). GDP per capita (current US$) - Indonesia. Retrieved February 2019, from The World Bank: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?locations=ID
The World Bank. (n.d.). How does the World Bank classify countries? Retrieved February 2020, from The World Bank: https://datahelpdesk.worldbank.org/knowledgebase/articles/378834-how-does-the-world-bank-classify-countries
Thomas, V. F. (2019, October 23). Lolos Middle Income Trap, Ekspektasi Jokowi yang Terlalu Tinggi Baca selengkapnya di artikel "Lolos Middle Income Trap, Ekspektasi Jokowi yang Terlalu Tinggi". Retrieved from tirto.id: https://tirto.id/lolos-middle-income-trap-ekspektasi-jokowi-yang-terlalu-tinggi-ekew
UNESCO Institute of Statistics. (2019). How Much Does Your Country Invest in R&D. Retrieved from UNESCO: http://uis.unesco.org/apps/visualisations/research-and-development-spending/
Van, N. H. (2017). Tax incentive Policies and Private sector’s Investments for R&D and Innovations in Vietnam. University of Tampere. Tampere: University of Tampere.
World Bank Data Team. (2019, July 1). New Country Classifications by Income Level: 2019-2020. Retrieved from World Bank Blogs: http://blogs.worldbank.org/opendata/new-country-classifications-income-level-2019-2020
World Bank Data Team. (2020). GDP per Capita (current US$) - Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, High income, Low & middle income. Retrieved from The World Bank: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?end=2019&locations=SG-ID-MY-XD-XO&start=1960&view=chart
World Bank. (2019). Research and development expenditure (% of GDP) - Indonesia, Korea, Rep., United States, Malaysia, Israel, Japan, Finland, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Germany. Retrieved October 2019, from The World Bank: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS?end=2017&locations=ID-KR-US-MY-IL-JP-FI-CH-AT-SE-DK-DE&name_desc=false&start=1996&view=chart
Zolt, E. (2015). Tax Incentives: Protecting the Tax Base. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. New York: United Nations.
Zolt, E. M. (2018, February). Design and Assessment of Tax Incentives in Developing Countries. Retrieved from United Nations: https://www.un.org/esa/ffd/publications/design-and-assessment-of-tax-incentives-in-developing-countries.html

Downloads

Published

2022-07-18

Issue

Section

Articles