Officially Minister of Finance , Suahasil Reveals His Key Focus
JAKARTA, DDTCNews - Suahasil Nazara has been officially inaugurated as the Minister of Finance in the Red-White Cabinet for the remainder of the 2024–2029 term. This topic is among the reviews featured in the national media today, Tuesday (15/9/2026).
Minister of Finance, Suahasil Nazara, has pledged to optimise the performance of the state budget (anggaran penerimaan dan belanja negara/APBN in Indonesian) so that it delivers tangible benefits to the public through support for consumption, investment, government expenditure and trade activities, particularly exports.
"The President directed me to complete the Red-White Cabinet term of 2024–2029 as the minister of finance. The task is to safeguard state finances," he said.
Suahasil called on all officials and employees within the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to carry out their duties to the best of their ability. He stressed that this is vital to maintaining the MoF's standing as a credible institution trusted by the public.
Further, he will also focus on continuing the duties and functions of the MoF to avoid fundamental changes in the ministry's operations.
"Everyone is solidly continuing the work of the Ministry of Finance. It is not a matter of constant change. This is about continuing activities, all the duties and functions of the Ministry of Finance, namely to safeguard the APBN and to grow and stabilise the economy," he said.
In addition to safeguarding the state budget, Suahasil will strengthen supervision and law enforcement, particularly against parties that violate provisions in the customs and excise sector. This effort is considered important for optimising state revenue whilst protecting the public.
He issued instructions to the Director General of Customs and Excise, Djaka Budhi Utama, to intensify supervision and enforcement against the circulation of illegal excisable goods, particularly illegal cigarettes.
"Pak Djaka has been working together with colleagues at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DGCE) to ensure that the apprehension of illegal activities is strengthened and we will continue to do so. Bear in mind, what is illegal is not only cigarettes; there are various matters that we must address," said Suahasil.
In addition to the above topic, there is also a review of the OECD's update to the GIR format and global minimum tax guidelines. Further, there is also a discussion regarding tax consultants under MoF Reg. 55/2026, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's expectations of the new minister of finance and other matters.
The following is a comprehensive review of the tax articles.
Suahasil Set to Build Trusted Public Communication
Minister of Finance, Suahasil Nazara, has committed to safeguarding state finances in accordance with the mandate given by President Prabowo Subianto. According to him, the President has requested him to maintain the soundness and credibility of state finances.
To preserve the credibility of the state budget, the MoF will build public communication that can be trusted.
"The priority is to run a credible APBN. I will continue to operate a trustworthy APBN, maintain trustworthy public communication and ensure that what the APBN does is to support the government's priority programmes," he said. (DDTCNews/Bisnis Indonesia/Kontan)
OECD Updates GIR Format and Global Minimum Tax Guidelines
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has updated the GloBE information return (GIR) and simultaneously issued new administrative guidance on the implementation of the global minimum tax (GloBE).
The GIR update aims to support the implementation of GloBE as revised through the side-by-side package. The updated GIR incorporates simplifications based on the side-by-side package agreed by the Inclusive Framework in January 2026.
"These revisions to the GIR will apply only to GIRs filed in respect of Fiscal Years commencing on or after 31 December 2025," the OECD stated in an official release. (DDTCNews)
Code of Ethics to Guide MoF Audits of Tax Consultants
The code of ethics and standards of practice for tax consultants serve as the reference for the Directorate General of Financial Sector Stability and Development (Direktorat Jenderal Stabilitas dan Pengembangan Sektor Keuangan/DJSPSK in Indonesian) when conducting audits of tax consultants.
Referring to Article 36 paragraph (2) of Minister of Finance Regulation (MoF Reg.) 55/2026, audits are conducted on tax consultants to assess the compliance of consultants or tax consulting firms with statutory laws and regulations, the code of ethics and practice standards.
"Audits referred to in paragraph (1) shall be conducted to assess the compliance of the tax consultants and tax consulting firms with statutory laws and regulations, the code of ethics and practice standards," reads Article 36 paragraph (2) of MoF Reg. 55/2026. (DDTCNews)
For Accuracy, Social Assistance Funds Paid Directly into Accounts
The government is preparing the digitalisation of social assistance (bantuan sosial/bansos in Indonesian) disbursement via bank accounts to improve targeting accuracy whilst reducing the potential for corruption. This mechanism is targeted to be implemented from early 2027.
The Chairperson of the Government Digital Transformation Acceleration Committee (Komite Percepatan Transformasi Digital Pemerintah/KPTDP in Indonesian) and concurrently Chairperson of the National Economic Council (Dewan Ekonomi Nasional/DEN in Indonesian), Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, stated that social assistance will in future be disbursed via bank accounts or cashless transactions.
"Everything will be transparent and open. We have agreed that there will be no more cash transfers, so all transactions will be cashless. This is also to reduce corruption," he said. (DDTCNews)
Provisions on MoF Revocation of Tax Consultant Association Licences
MoF Reg. 55/2026 enables the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to revoke the registration status determination of a tax consultant association. The registered status determination of a tax consultant association may be revoked if the association receives written reprimands 3 times within 3 years.
"In the event that a tax consultant association receives a written reprimand...3 times within a period of 3 years, the director general shall revoke the registration of the tax consultant association with the MoF," reads Article 33 paragraph (8) of MoF Reg. 55/2026.
A written reprimand is issued to a tax consultant association if the association in question fails to fulfil its obligations under Article 33 paragraph (1) through paragraph (4) of MoF Reg. 55/2026. (DDTCNews)
Kadin Cautions New Minister of Finance on Tax Burden
The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kamar Dagang dan Industri/Kadin in Indonesian) hopes that the Minister of Finance, Suahasil Nazara, will not indiscriminately raise the tax burden in pursuit of state revenue targets. Kadin believes that fiscal consolidation should be achieved through economic expansion and broadening of the taxpayer base.
Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Deputy Chairperson-General, Erwin Aksa, respects President Prabowo Subianto's decision to appoint Suahasil as the minister of finance , replacing Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa.
Given Suahasil's track record at the Ministry of Finance, Kadin is optimistic that the transition of fiscal policy and state budget management will proceed smoothly without disruption to the business community. (Bisnis.com)