Samsat Berkah Malam Launches in Medan, Extending Vehicle Tax Payment Hours

MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The North Sumatra Provincial Government has launched Samsat Berkah Malam, a nighttime service that allows residents to pay their motor vehicle tax outside regular working hours. The service is available every weekend on Jalan Nibung Raya in Medan Petisah District, Medan, providing an additional option for residents who do not have time to settle their vehicle tax obligations during the day.

The North Sumatra Provincial Government hopes the service will not only expand access to public services but also encourage residents to fulfill their motor vehicle tax obligations. The Samsat bus operates in busy locations in the evening, particularly in areas frequented by younger people.

The Head of the North Sumatra Regional Revenue Agency (Bapenda Sumut), Sutan Tolang Lubis, said Samsat Berkah Malam was officially launched on Saturday, September 5, 2026, within the jurisdiction of the UPT Samsat Medan Utara administrative office.

"Alhamdulillah, tonight we have officially launched Samsat Berkah Malam within the jurisdiction of UPT Samsat Medan Utara. The location is on Jalan Nibung Raya in Medan Petisah District, Medan," Sutan said on Saturday, September 5, 2026.

Vehicle Tax Payments Now Available at Night

Sutan explained that the provincial government deliberately stationed the nighttime Samsat bus at a location where large numbers of people gather. The strategy is intended to bring the service closer to taxpayers while providing more flexible payment hours.

According to Sutan, residents who are busy with work or other activities during the day can now use the service in the evening. Since its launch, Samsat Berkah Malam has received a positive response from the public.

"This is an expression of our service to the public. We want to give people the opportunity to pay their motor vehicle tax even when they do not have time during the day. That is exactly why we established Samsat Berkah Malam—to make motor vehicle tax payments more accessible and, above all, easier," he said.

The initiative is also part of the government's efforts to improve the quality of public services. By allowing payments to be made outside regular working hours, the service is expected to enable more residents to pay their motor vehicle tax obligations on time.

In addition to making tax payments more convenient for taxpayers, higher compliance with motor vehicle tax payments could also strengthen regional revenue. Motor vehicle tax is one of the sources of revenue contributing to North Sumatra's locally generated provincial income.

Nighttime Samsat Services Planned for Expansion

The North Sumatra Provincial Government plans to introduce similar services in other areas. Sutan said UPT Samsat Medan Selatan is among the areas being considered for a nighttime Samsat service at a location that is easily accessible to residents.

"We hope that UPT Samsat Medan Selatan can implement this later by opening another location there. Our goal is to make access even easier for the public. Other UPTs in various regions have also opened nighttime Samsat branches," he explained.

According to Sutan, several Samsat administrative offices in different regions are already operating nighttime counters. This demonstrates that regional governments are increasingly developing service models that respond to residents' needs and daily activities.

The North Sumatra Provincial Government will initially monitor the development of the Samsat Berkah Malam program before deciding on its future operating model. Factors including the number of visitors and public response will be taken into consideration as part of the evaluation.

During the initial phase, the service will operate on two evenings per week. However, the North Sumatra Provincial Government does not rule out extending the operating schedule if residents demonstrate a need to pay their motor vehicle tax on additional days.

Service Operates Every Friday and Saturday

The Head of UPT Samsat Medan Utara, M Ainul Hafiz, said the Samsat night bus is open to the public every Friday and Saturday. Staff provide services from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Western Indonesia Time (WIB).

According to Ainul Hafiz, the operating hours allow residents to pay their motor vehicle tax after completing their work or other daytime activities.

"We operate on Fridays and Saturdays from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The nighttime Samsat service is intended to make access easier and ensure that motor vehicle tax payments can also be made outside regular working hours," he said.

The Samsat Berkah Malam program on Jalan Nibung Raya is one of the North Sumatra Provincial Government's innovations aimed at bringing tax-related services closer to the public. The government hopes the evening service will make access easier, expand the reach of public services and strengthen public awareness of the obligation to pay motor vehicle tax.

Going forward, the North Sumatra Provincial Government will evaluate the implementation of the program based on developments on the ground. If public demand is high and residents require longer service hours, there is a possibility that the nighttime Samsat service could eventually operate every day.

With more flexible service hours, residents will no longer have to rely solely on regular daytime operating hours to pay their motor vehicle tax. At the same time, the government can reach taxpayers who have limited free time on weekdays, allowing tax services to become more closely aligned with the daily routines of the public. (IDNC)

REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala