TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro called on tax consultants to help the government increase tax revenue this year. According to Bambang, tax consultants play a vital role to boost taxpayers’ compliance.

“The tax revenue target this year is set at Rp1,300 trillion (US$108.3 billion). Therefore, the tax directorate cannot work alone,” Bambang said on January 27, 2015.

Bambang called on tax consultants to honor ethics when representing their clients to shun tax evasion.

“If a taxpayer asks for help to manipulate the tax, please refuse,” he said.

According to Bambang, the tax compliance level in Indonesia is extremely low. Of the total 23 million tax subjects, only 17 million individuals who are registered as taxpayers. Of the figure, only 10.8 million who submit the annual tax returns and, only 1.7 million who actually pay taxes.

Deputy Finance Minister and Acting Tax Director General Mardiasmo hopes that tax consultants would use their conscience when serving taxpayers.

“I’m asking [tax consultants] not only to work with their reasons but also with their conscience because this is for the sake of the country,” he said.

ANGGA SUKMAWIJAYA