Tax Amnesty is People’s Last Chance, the President Says

President Joko Widodo delivers a remarks during the launching of tax amnesty program on Friday (1/7), at the Headquarter of Directorate General of Taxation, Jakarta

The Government wants tax amnesty to bring benefits to common interest, nation, and people’s interest, rather than the interest of several enterprises, or group of people.

The statement was delivered by President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo in a remarks during the launching of tax amnesty program on Friday (1/7), at the Chakti Buddhi Bhakti Hall of the Headquarter of Directorate General of Taxation, Jakarta.

For the record, the President launched tax amnesty program after the bill was passed by the House of Representatives.

On that occasion, President Jokowi asserted that tax amesty will not accommodate corruptors’ money to be laundered.

“I need to emphasize that the target of tax amnesty are those who keep their wealth abroad, particularly in tax heaven countries,” the President stated.

Everybody knows that there are thousands of trillions of money in business sector that being kept in other countries. Therefore, with Tax Amnesty Law as a legal basis, I call on everyone to repatriate and shift their money from abroad into the country for the sake of Indonesia’s development, the President said.

According to the President, tax anmesty not only provides way for tax evaders to declare their wealth and come clean but also asset repatriation, which is to bring assets that are currently held in banks abroad, or in foreign banks to Indonesia.

“We hope people can repatriate their assets in Indonesia as the international fiscal cooperations at the level of the G20, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and non OECD are developing ,” the President added.

President Jokowi went on to say that there will be a total information transparency in 2018 that allows us to know everyone who keeps their assets abroad, including the place and the amount of money. However, the Government already knew their names; the President, Minister of Finance, and Director General of Taxation are those who have the list of people keeping assets worth trillions of rupiah abroad.

“I already warned the people that only me, Minister of Finance, and Director General of Taxation have the list. We only need to summon them one by one, because the information we have is very clear, whether their names, addresses, passports, and places where the money being kept. Thus, do not need to wait information transparency in 2018,” the President said.

The Government want to get that chance, and make use of it. Tax Amnesty Law provides a clear legal basis, thus people should not hesitate and be afraid, because the large amount of potentials is expected to return to the country, the President added.

President Jokowi also urges Directorate General of Taxation to reform and be more professional.

“Show our integrities and great responsibilities that state revenue is crucial for the development of the state and nation. Do not play with tax amnesty and taxation because I will personally monitor it with my own way,” the President firmly said.

The President also asserted that tax amnesty program is the last chance for people. “This opportunity will never come again. So, let participate in the program, and be careful for people who does not participate,” the President stated.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, Minister of Finance Bambang Brodjonegoro, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna HH. Laoly, and Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform Yuddy Chrisnandi also attended the launching event. (DNS/JAY/ES) (RAS/EP/YM/Naster)