Applicability cigarette tax that triggers the high price of cigarettes considered reasonable by the government. Cigarette tax is an additional tax levy excise fully intended to increase local revenue that can later be used for a servant in the health sector, in contrast to the cigarette tax that is inserted into the state treasury income.

Efrizal Handra, public economists presented by the government at Plenary Meeting Room, Thursday (12/9), levy taxes on cigarettes by 10 % is still very small and should be bigger than that number. According to him, the taxation of cigarettes can be seen as a way of suppressing the number of cigarette consumption is increasing every year. Although on the one hand the tobacco industry also creates jobs, but the resulting negative impact is much greater.

Efrizal deplores the attitude of the government that does not apply the strict rules in order to control the number of smokers. "Cigarette Indonesia is still low compared to most other countries. This is due to low production costs and low labor costs. Therefore we expect, the high price of cigarettes can reduce the number of smokers significantly," said Efrizal.

Meanwhile, Robert Simanjuntak were also presented as experts from the government saying that the double taxation on the tax object , such as cigarettes , has become commonplace and acceptable logic because of the many types of taxes . In line with Robert, witnesses from the government, Abdillah Hasan said that the Thai state taxing power even at 3% on cigarettes. Therefore, the government believes the imposition of excise taxes on cigarettes and tobacco has been in accordance with the constitution.

At odds with the government, as Mulyana W. Kusuma attorney, Robikin Emhas et al in case 64/PUU-XI/2013 remained postulate the double taxation on the taxable income has been contrary to the constitution. "We had an interesting analogy, when Constitutional Court annulled the provisions of the double taxation on the sport of golf, which can be taxed sports and entertainment tax. Court invalidated that provision. We believe the Court will grant our demands," he said optimistically. ( Julie / mh )