BERITA TERKINI
JAKARTA, DDTCNews – This week, the public was once again “shaken” by news of sting operations (operasi tangkap tangan/OTT in Indonesian) conducted by the Corruption Eradication Commission (Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi/KPK in Indonesian), ensnaring employees of the Directorate General of Taxes (DGT) and the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DGCE). Responding to the development, Minister of Finance, Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, stressed that there would be no interference in the ongoing legal proceedings.
Nevertheless, Purbaya confirmed that legal aid would continue to be provided to employees caught in the sting operations.
“I will continue to provide them with legal aid, but I will not interfere in the legal process. This implies that I would, for example, go to the president to ask the KPK to terminate a case or ask the attorney general’s office to halt a case, as happened in the past,” he remarked.
Purbaya explained that, procedurally, the Ministry of Finance would assist the tax employees apprehended by the Corruption Eradication Commission in Banjarmasin. However, he stressed that the ministry would remain fully cooperative with the investigative process undertaken by the Corruption Eradication Commission. According to him, the Ministry of Finance also supports the fair administration of justice.
“I will help, but I will allow the legal proceedings to proceed as fairly as possible. If they are guilty, then they are guilty; but if they are not, they should not be abused. We will not interfere in the legal process,” he added.
Purbaya further noted that the arrest of tax employees by the Corruption Eradication Commission would serve as a form of shock therapy for other DGT employees. Through law enforcement, other employees are also expected to perform their duties with greater seriousness.
The Corruption Eradication Commission formerly stated that it had conducted a sting operation against tax employees in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan. However, the commission has yet to disclose the number of individuals apprehended, as the case remains under further investigation.
In January, the Corruption Eradication Commission also carried out a sting operation and named five individuals as suspects in an alleged corruption case. The five suspects consisted of three DGT employees assigned to the North Jakarta Medium Taxpayer Office (Kantor Pelayanan Pajak/KPP Madya Jakarta Utara in Indonesian), one tax consultant and 1 taxpayer.
The tax employees are suspected of receiving bribes from a taxpayer in exchange for lowering or reducing tax assessments.
In addition to the DGT, Corruption Eradication Commission investigators have also questioned employees within the DGCE. DGCE’s Head of the Subdirectorate of Public Relations and Dissemination, Budi Prasetyo, confirmed that the Corruption Eradication Commission investigators had examined customs and excise officials at the DGCE Head Office. However, he did not specify the officials’ positions or the number of individuals caught in the sting operations or examined.
Beyond developments related to the sting operations involving tax and customs and excise employees, several other noteworthy issues emerged during the week. These include a letter from the director general of taxes to tax consultant associations, urging stricter enforcement of the code of ethics, updates on the unification of the Tax Court under the Supreme Court, Purbaya’s remarks on what he considers lenient tax refund procedures and the reshuffling of 40 DGT officials.
Minister of Finance Purbaya has recently acknowledged that he lacks the authority to dismiss or lay off underperforming employees within the Ministry of Finance.
As a result, the only option available to the ministry is to reassign such employees to postings in other regions. The plan was conveyed by the minister of finance during a meeting with Commission XI of the House of Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat/DPR in Indonesian).
“Apparently, with civil servants, we cannot dismiss employees, nor can we furlough them. If we do, we end up losing at the Administrative Court (Pengadilan Tata Usaha Negara/PTUN in Indonesian). We, therefore, have decided to refrain from this option. Instead, we transfer them to quieter locations,” he said.
Director General of Taxes, Bimo Wijayanto, has issued an official letter to 4 tax consultant associations in Indonesia. The Director General of Taxes Letter Number S-8/PJ/2026 contains an “Appeal to Strengthen Guidance and Supervision Measures for the Tax Consultant Profession by Tax Consultant Associations in Indonesia.”
Through the letter, the director general outlined 4 key points. First, the DGT highlighted the need for a shared vision with tax consultant associations in upholding ethical standards. Second, the DGT urges and fully supports the associations in strengthening guidance and supervision of their members.
Third, the DGT believes that enhanced integrity among tax consultant associations will strengthen public trust and increase voluntary compliance. Fourth, the DGT encourages the associations to continue strengthening communication and coordination with the DGT.
Through the Ministry of Finance, the government will prepare a presidential regulation specifically concerning the unification of the Tax Court under the Supreme Court (Mahkamah Agung/MA in Indonesian).
Referring to the Appendix of Presidential Decree 38/2025 concerning the 2026 Presidential Regulation Drafting Programme, the presidential regulation on the unification is required to implement Constitutional Court (Mahkamah Konstitusi/MK in Indonesian) Decision Number 26/PUU-XXI/2023, which mandates the transfer of organisational, administrative and financial guidance of the Tax Court from the Ministry of Finance to the Supreme Court.
“The Presidential Regulation Drafting Programme referred to in the First Dictum is established for a period of 1 year,” reads the Second Dictum of Presidential Decree 38/2025.
Minister of Finance Purbaya is of the view that the tax authority has been too lenient in disbursing tax refunds to taxpayers.
According to Purbaya, an overly lax refund disbursement system was one of the factors behind the high realisation of tax refunds last year, which stood at IDR361.15 trillion, representing an increase of 35.9%.
“I see that our system is too convenient. Once a [refund application] comes in, it is automatically paid out, with no control. I will review this to prevent it from recurring. Out of nowhere, IDR300 trillion has already been disbursed in refunds,” Purbaya said.
Minister of Finance Purbaya inaugurated 40 officials at the DGT and 3 officials at the Directorate General of Budget (Direktorat Jenderal Anggaran/DJA in Indonesian) on Friday (6/2/2026). According to him, the appointments were intended to place the best individuals in more strategic positions.
Purbaya stated that official rotations would continue at the DGT, with the same policy also applying to the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DGCE).
“This will continue on an ongoing basis. Rotations at the DGT and DGCE are normal. When you demonstrate sound performance, you will certainly be promoted to a better position. As such, don’t be afraid, don’t lose heart. This is a normal process,” Purbaya claimed. (sap)
