TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Special staffer of the Finance Ministry Yustinus Prastowo on Wednesday responded to a public statement by tycoon and CT Corp chairperson Chairul Tanjung in commemorating the 2022 Tax Day who claimed there are billionaires who remain untouched by taxes to this day.

Prastowo on August 3 believes there is a small chance that such a claim can be true in this day and age. “What I suspect is that [Chairul Tanjung] must have a primary source but when he revealed this it is possibly based on outdated data.”

Prastowo stood by his statement as he believed the government has implemented tax amnesty programs or voluntary disclosure programs twice. He also maintained that there is a law preventing such a thing from happening in the Government Regulation in lieu of law No.1/2017 overseeing access to financial information for tax purposes.

"And now there is a requirement from Bank Indonesia as far as I know that depositors, customers, debtors must have an NPWP, most likely the trillions will have an NPWP," he said. An NPWP is a tax identification number unique to each citizen of Indonesia.

However, Prastowo called for anyone, including the tycoon Chairul Tanjung to provide the government with information if they have proof of individuals who have not paid their taxes, including wealthy businesspeople.

"We strongly believe that Chairul Tanjung’s good intentions encourage our mutual awareness. It is better if the latest accurate data is submitted, I am sure that in an impartial and fair manner the Directorate General of Taxes will follow up," he added.

Tanjung revealed this during the Tax Day 2022 event in front of a large audience, which also had Finance Minister Sri Mulyani. "I know exactly because I am a banker. The money is hundreds of billions and trillions. Comparing mine to their money, they have more than me, but they have not been touched [by tax]," he said last month.

ARRIJAL RACHMAN

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