ISNU to Host Public Discussion on National Revenue Agency Urgency

JAKARTA, DDTCNews - The state continues to shoulder a heavy burden in boosting tax revenues. Over the past 5 years, tax revenue has hovered between 8.3% and 10.4% of the gross domestic product (GDP or produk domestik bruto/PDB in Indonesian), a level that remains below that of other Asean countries.

At the same time, demands on state expenditure to finance various development programmes have continued to rise. Consequently, an in-depth analysis is required to examine the persistently low tax ratio and to formulate effective strategies to enhance revenue collection.

One option that has emerged is the establishment of a National Revenue Agency (Badan Penerimaan Negara/BPN in Indonesian) in Indonesia. Similar institutions already operate in several countries, including the Philippines, the United States of America (USA), Kenya, Australia and Peru. In these jurisdictions, an autonomous body is entrusted with overseeing tax collection policies as well as other forms of state revenues.

Is such a concept suitable for Indonesia? How urgent is the establishment of a National Revenue Agency?

To refine the analysis and thoroughly examine the necessity of the establishment of a National Revenue Agency, the Association of Nahdlatul Ulama Scholars (Ikatan Sarjana Nahdlatul Ulama/ISNU in Indonesian) will convene a focus group discussion (FGD) themed ‘The Urgency of Establishing a National Revenue Agency amidst the Crisis and Deficit in National Revenues’.

The discussion will be held offline on Wednesday, 11 June 2025, starting at 12:00 p.m. Western Indonesian Time (Waktu Indonesian Barat/WIB in Indonesian) until completion, at the 8th floor of the PBNU Office on Jalan Kramat Jati Raya, Central Jakarta.

The event will open with keynote speeches delivered by several prominent figures, including PBNU Chairperson, K.H. Yahya Cholil Staquf, the Special Advisor to the President on State Revenues, Hadi Poernomo, PP ISNU Executive Chairperson Kamarudin Amin and Chairperson of the ISNU Forum, Hery Haryanto Azumi.

Expert presentations, on the other hand, will be delivered by leading figures in the field of taxation, including DDTC Founder Darussalam, Financial and Tax Intelligence Analyst, Agung Budi Wibowo, Chairperson of House of Representatives Commission XI Mukhamad Misbakhun and Professor of Political Law of National Taxation at Sultan Agung Islamic University, Edi Slamet Irianto.

Through this discussion, the public is expected to gain a deeper understanding of the factors underlying Indonesia’s low tax ratio and the strategies needed to optimize state revenues. Ultimately, the forum aims to address a fundamental question: is the establishment of a National Revenue Agency necessary?

The event will be attended by ISNU Executives, PBNU Representatives, autonomous bodies (badan otonom/banom in Indonesian) within the PBNU as well as ISNU/PBNU strategic partners from government institutions, the private sector and higher education institutions. (sap)