Delays in tax refunds, factored into cash flow projections, could\nlead companies to hold back on capital expenditure, postpone expansions,\nand adjust operations.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA, KOMPAS \u2014 The government\u2019s efforts to close potential state\nrevenue leakages through plans to audit tax refunds have sparked\nconcerns among business actors. In addition to potentially disrupting\nliquidity, unmeasured audits could trigger legal uncertainties and\ndisturbances to the investment climate.<\/p>\n
The government\u2019s focus on tax refunds has intensified alongside the\nswelling value of excess tax payment returns in recent years. Last year,\nthe refund value reached Rp 361 trillion, in stark contrast to the tax\nrevenue realisation that experienced a shortfall of Rp 271.7 trillion.\nNet revenue only reached Rp 1,917.6 trillion or 87.6 percent of the\nstate budget target.<\/p>\n
This situation has triggered suspicions of systemic leakages and\ninaccuracies in the refund mechanism targeting. This underpins Finance\nMinister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa\u2019s decision to involve the Financial and\nDevelopment Supervisory Agency (BPKP) to audit tax refunds for the\n2020\u20132025 period.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, this audit plan is not only seen as a step to\nstrengthen state revenue but also as a bogeyman for business actors.<\/p>\n
General Secretary of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association\n(Hipmi) Anggawira views tax refunds for business actors not merely as\nreturns of excess payments but as an important part of company liquidity\nmanagement.<\/p>\n
According to him, the tax refund value in the manufacturing,\nexporter, construction, oil and gas, plantation, logistics, and\nindustries reliant on imported raw materials and capital goods\ninvestment sectors is generally substantial and has been factored into\ncash flow projections.<\/p>\n
\u201cDelays in refunds can directly impact business activities,\u201d said\nAnggawira when contacted by Kompas on Monday (13\/4\/2026).<\/p>\n
Delays in tax refunds could lead companies to hold back on capital\nspending, postpone expansions, and adjust operations such as reducing\nworking hours or holding back recruitment. This impact will be more felt\nby medium-sized businesses that have limited access to financing\ncompared to large companies.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the current uncertain economic situation, liquidity is very\nimportant for the business world,\u201d said Anggawira.<\/p>\n
Hipmi views the refund audit as a legitimate and necessary step to\nmaintain accountability and prevent misuse. However, a too repressive\napproach is seen as risky in creating negative perceptions, especially\nfor compliant taxpayers.<\/p>\n
According to Anggawira, the main concern of business actors is not\nthe audit itself but the lack of clarity in the mechanism and the length\nof the process. The business world, he said, can accept additional\naudits as long as there are clear parameters, measurable completion\ntimes, and certainty over the process and results.<\/p>\n
Hipmi also proposes that refund audits be conducted on a risk basis.\nTaxpayers with a good compliance track record and clean refund history\nshould receive a faster process through a fast-track scheme, while\nin-depth examinations are focused on high-risk taxpayers.<\/p>\n
In addition, the government is seen as needing to establish a clear\nservice level agreement (SLA) regarding audit completion time limits. If\nthe process exceeds the time limit without accountable reasons, there\nshould be a compensation mechanism or automatic approval (deemed\napproval) to provide certainty for business actors.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Taxation Committee of the Indonesian\nEmployers Association (Apindo) Siddhi Widyaprathama hopes that the audit\nwill be conducted carefully, transparently, and upholding integrity.\nAudits that are too repressive are feared to instead create uncertainty\nand damage investor confidence.<\/p>\n
Amid global geopolitical pressures that could disrupt supply chains\nand economic stability, Siddhi continued, the government needs to ensure\nthat fiscal policies align with the needs of the real sector. Legal\ncertainty and consistent rule enforcement become important factors for\nbusiness actors to remain confident in making long-term investments.<\/p>\n
Refund audits should not become a covert instrument to pressure\ntaxpayers into waiving their rights.<\/p>\n
Apindo states support for supervision and audits conducted by tax\nauthorities. However, it emphasises the importance of accountable\nimplementation balanced with efficient services.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy maintaining a balance between fiscal functions and real sector\nliquidity, we ensure the economic engine runs optimally,\u201d said\nSiddhi.<\/p>\n
Vice Chairman of the Industry Sector of the Indonesian Chamber of\nCommerce and Industry (Kadin) Saleh Husin added that amid the unstable\nglobal economic conditions, the business world needs certainty and peace\nin conducting business.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo not let policies emerge that instead create uncertainty and\nimpact investment interest,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Senior Economist at Paramadina University, Wijayanto Samirin, reminds\nthe government that refund audits should not become a covert instrument\nto pressure taxpayers into waiving their rights.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf that happens, the investment climate will worsen. The business\nworld will adopt a wait-and-see approach and delay business expansions.\nWe seem to be sacrificing long-term interests to cover short-term fiscal\ndeficits,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Wijayanto assesses that the current policy dilemma is not simple. On\none hand, potential refund leakages need to be closed. On the other\nhand, disruptions to business liquidity also carry significant risks.\nTherefore, legal certainty and clear regulations become key.<\/p>\n
He also sees this audit step as an indication of fiscal pressure,\nparticularly from the government\u2019s cash flow side. \u201cThe message emerging\nto the public is less conducive. The government appears to be seeking\nshortcuts,\u201d he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tax-refund-audits-become-a-bogeyman-for-the-business-world-1776095493", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }