Taxation
September 20, 2024

List of Company and Employee Expenditure That are Subjected to Tax

Written by
Ekky Pramana
Last Modified on
September 20, 2024

Financial Planning and supervision in company spending efficiently and effectively is necessary in order to achieve a balance in the company's balance sheet.

Bambang Riyanto in his book ‘Fundamentals of Corporate Expenditures’ states that corporate expenditures are expenditures that include all activities related to efforts to obtain the funds needed by companies and efforts to use these funds as efficiently as possible (1981: 3).

Expenditures based on activities will be grouped into active and passive expenditures. Then, based on the source of funds, they will be grouped into internal expenditures and external expenditures.

Active Expenditures

Active expenditures are the company's activities that use up their funds, such as  purchase of buildings, machinery, inventory items, and so on.

Passive Expenditures

Passive spending is a company's attempt to obtain funds to finance its business. In other words, passive spending is the source of capital shown on the credit side of the balance sheet.

Internal Expenditures

Internal expenditures are expenditures whose source of funds is taken from the company's own funds, for example non-sharing profits or the use of fixed assets whose value is declining.

External Expenditures

External Expenditure can be described as an effort to meet the capital needs of a company obtained from sources of capital outside the company and is known as self-financing (equity financing).

Corporate and Employee Expenditure Tax

Expenditures for both companies and employees can be categorized as active expenditures, this expenditure can be seen on the debit side of the balance sheet where there are entries with embedded funds in the form of cash, bank, accounts receivable, goods, machinery and inventory. For this group, the taxation follows the provisions of 11% Value Added Tax, or Income Tax Article 23 (a value of 15% or with a DPP of 2%).

  1. Purchase Terms with 11% VAT

The change of VAT rate to 11% (previously 10%) has been implemented since April 1, 2022. The government will continue to increase the VAT rate to 12% before January 1, 2025 (UU No. 7 of 2021 Harmonization of Tax Regulations).

Goods that are subjected to 11% Value Added Tax includes:

  1. Electronics (smartphones, televisions, laptops, computers etc);
  2. Clothing apparels 
  3. Personal hygiene products such as soaps, toothpaste, shampoo, etc;
  4. Footwear such as shoes and sandals;
  5. Telecommunications provider services such as phone credit and internet bills;
  6. Middle to upper scale houses or place of residence;
  7. Vehicles such as motorbikes and cars;
  8. Household electricity with a power of more than 6600 VA.
  9. digital advertising services; and
  10. Items purchased on the marketplace.

In this case, almost all company spending and employee spending are subject to the 11% Value Added Tax as mentioned above.  Such as purchase of electronic goods to support work, company’s vehicles, as well as miscellaneous stuff purchased through the marketplace to support daily operations.

There are types of goods that are not subject to Value Added Tax according to the applicable law, such as food and drinks served in hotels, restaurants, restaurants, stalls, etc. This includes food and drinks, either consumed on site or takeaways, such as food and beverages delivered by catering or catering businesses, which are objects of regional taxes and regional levies in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations in the field of regional taxes and regional levies.

  1. Provisions for Spending according to PPh 23

PPh 23 is an income tax that is imposed on tax objects in the form of:

  1. Dividend;
  2. Interest;
  3. Royalties;
  4. Gifts, awards, bonuses, and the like other than to Individuals;
  5. Rent and other income related to the use of assets, except for land and/or building rentals (such as vehicle or sound system rentals); and
  6. Gratification or income paid to other parties or partners related to technical services, management services, construction services, consulting services, and services other than those that have been deducted by Article 21 Income Tax.

The standard rate charged based on the applicable policy is 15% and 2% of the value of the Tax Imposition Basis (DPP) or 2% multiplied by the gross amount excluding VAT. The gross amount in these provisions does not include:

  1. Payment of salaries, wages, honorarium, benefits and other compensation related to work paid by the taxpayer who provides labor to workers, based on contracts with service users;
  2. Payments to service providers for the procurement/purchase of goods or materials related to the services provided;
  3. Payments to third parties paid through service providers, related to services provided by service providers; and
  4. Payments to service providers including reimbursement of fees paid by service providers to third parties providing the relevant services.

The 15% rate is imposed on tax objects in the form of dividends, interest, royalties and gifts (awards, bonuses and the like other than to individuals). Meanwhile, the 2% DPP rate is charged for rent (and other income related to the use of assets, except for land and/or building rent) and fees for services listed previously.

Tax Terms

In general, purchases made by employees or companies is subject to 11% VAT, it is different if the purchase involves a third party in the process, where PPh 23 will be imposed with a 2% DPP.

So, when you receive invoices from third parties related to purchases made either the company or their employees, you will have to first examine the category of the tax object.

For example, if your company uses consulting services from other companies in product development planning, you need to deduct the PPH 23 by 2% of the gross amount of the service value and make receipts of the withholding.

This regulation applies to companies with either PKP status (Taxable Entrepreneurs) or non-PKP since last October 2020. Where individual businesses and non-PKP business entities will be subject to twice the tax rates, which is 30% (for PPh 23 the normal rate is 15%) and 4% (for PPh 23 with a DPP of 2%).

So those are the provisions regarding corporate spending tax. Companies are entitled to recover taxes on some types of their purchases. This amount will usually be billed to their supplier or vendor or deducted from the payment amount. For the latter, the company must send proof of withholding to the supplier or vendor.

Indeed, tax calculations often complicate the company's accounting process. For this reason, Aspire has launched a new feature to help companies simplify tax deductions and collect taxes from related suppliers or vendors. This tax deduction feature is part of Aspire payables management. With the tax deduction feature, you can automate tax deductions up to the billing process and send proof of deductions directly to suppliers and vendors. save the precious work hours of the finance team!

To find out more about this feature, check on the Aspire payable management solutions page, or contact our team to schedule a demo and find out more about Aspire's features that will make your business finance operations easier.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How can Aspire support the unique financial needs and challenges of mid-sized businesses?

Aspire offers a comprehensive suite of expense management solutions tailored for mid-market companies. This includes sophisticated corporate cards, advanced budget controls, and streamlined claims and approval policies, all designed to enhance financial efficiency.

How quickly can a mid-market company integrate Aspire's solutions into existing systems and workflows?

Integration with Aspire's expense management solutions is swift and seamless. Mid-market companies can swiftly implement corporate cards with tailored features, set up nuanced budgets, and establish streamlined claims and approval processes, ensuring minimal disruption to existing workflows.

How does Aspire compare to competitors for international money transfers?

Aspire excels in international expense management with FX fees up to 2x cheaper than traditional banks.

Global payments are offered by various providers through business accounts. Read our article to know more about types of business accounts and how to choose the best one for your business. There are many banks and fintech companies offering business accounts to businesses in Singapore. We have covered them all in our blog, you can click the links to view accounts offered by various banks such as DBS, OCBC, Maybank etc.

However, if you are a start-up or a growing business, chances are you may not meet the eligibility criteria for most of these banks or find their charges to be expensive for your liking. You can consider opting for Aspire multi-currency account for global payments which offers you all the benefits, with eligibility criteria which are less stringent. Read our article on bank charges in Singapore for a quick and easy comparison.

What level of customization does Aspire offer to meet the specific financial requirements of mid-market clients?

Aspire understands the diverse financial needs of mid-market clients and provides a high level of customization to tailor solutions accordingly. This includes the ability to customize corporate cards with specific spending limits, rewards, and benefits that align with the unique requirements of each client.

Additionally, Aspire's budgeting features are adaptable to accommodate the distinct financial structures of mid-market enterprises. The platform also allows for fine-tuning approval policies, ensuring they align with the specific workflows and compliance standards of individual mid-market businesses. This commitment to customization empowers mid-market clients to optimize their expense management in a way that best suits their financial goals and operational preferences.

Is there a minimum balance required for Aspire Business Accounts?

No minimum balance is required to keep your SGD, USD, EUR, GBP and IDR Accounts activated.

Can Aspire's corporate cards be customized to cater to the specific needs of consulting teams on the go?

Yes, Aspire's corporate cards are highly customizable. Consulting teams can benefit from tailored spending limits, travel-centric perks, and real-time transaction tracking, ensuring that the cards meet the unique requirements of professionals on the move.

How does Aspire support budget management for consulting projects and travel expenses?

Aspire's platform offers sophisticated budget controls that consulting companies can adapt to project-specific needs. This includes setting project budgets, tracking expenditures, and receiving real-time insights to ensure that expenses align with project goals.

What are Aspire Corporate Card FX rates?

At Aspire, we want you to pay the lowest rates in the market.
- Zero card activation fees
- Zero card transaction fees
- Best FX rates, up to 2x cheaper than banks

How does Aspire help consulting companies enforce expense policies and approvals for travel expenses?

Aspire streamlines the claims and approval process, allowing consulting companies to establish and enforce expense policies seamlessly. Customizable approval workflows ensure compliance with company policies and industry regulations.

Is Aspire's platform scalable for consulting companies of varying sizes?

Yes, Aspire's platform is scalable and caters to consulting companies of all sizes. Whether you're a boutique consultancy or a larger firm, the platform's features can be adapted to meet your specific travel and expense management needs.

How can I open a business account in Singapore?

For a business account in Singapore, Aspire is an excellent choice. With a focus on startup and SME needs, Aspire offers a seamless and transparent banking experience.

Benefit from their user-friendly online platform, no minimum balance or account opening fees, and dedicated support for businesses of all sizes.

Aspire is designed to streamline your financial management, making it an ideal partner for entrepreneurs in Singapore.

How long does it take to open an Aspire business account?

Registration with Aspire takes less than 10 minutes which you can do via our website or mobile app.

Once registered, we will get back to you within 5 business days on whether your account has been activated or if we need further documents from you.

Our account verification process varies according to the nature of your business. In exceptional cases, it can take up to 7 days to process your documents.

How can Aspire's corporate cards benefit my startup?

Aspire's corporate cards offer a range of benefits for your startup. Earn 1% unlimited cashback on qualified spends, simplify expense management, enjoy streamlined transactions, and gain real-time insights into spending. With customizable limits, integration with accounting software, and enhanced security features, Aspire's corporate cards are designed to empower your startup's financial efficiency and provide added convenience for your team.

Is Aspire suitable for both early-stage and established startups?

Absolutely, Aspire caters to the needs of both early-stage and established startups. Whether you're just beginning your entrepreneurial journey or have an established business, Aspire offers tailored financial solutions to help streamline your operations.

From managing expenses and optimizing workflows to providing valuable financial insights, Aspire's platform is designed to adapt and scale with your business as it grows. The flexibility and scalability of Aspire make it a suitable choice for startups at various stages of development.

Is there a minimum balance required for Aspire Business Accounts?

No minimum balance is required to keep your SGD, USD and IDR* Accounts activated.

However, we recommend keeping your subscription plan amount available on your balance to ensure you're up to date with your payment every month.*

To create a recipient or make any transaction on your IDR Account, you'll need to have a minimum balance of IDR 10,000 on your account.

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Ekky Pramana
is a seasoned writer specialising in business finance and management. With a writing history at Tech in Asia, Teknoverso, and various other publishers, he leverages his market expertise to empower and educate first-time founders in managing their businesses better.
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